The Subdivision and Housing Developers Association-Central Visayas (SHDA-CV) will hold its Housing Summit 2026 on September 11 at the Radisson Blu Hotel Cebu to confront two urgent challenges: regulatory delays in licensing and approvals, and rising construction costs driven by global economic pressures.
SHDA-CV President Ken Salimbangon said this year’s summit comes at a difficult time for the industry. “We hold the Housing Summit usually every year. This year it’s different because there’s so much going on, especially the crisis,” he noted.
Breaking Barriers, Building Forward
The summit carries the theme “Breaking Barriers, Building Forward: Accelerating Housing Development Through Regulatory Reform, Cost Resilience and Resource Security.”
Event chair and SHDA Vice President Ronald Allan Uy said the theme reflects the realities developers face today. Around 150 participants, including CEOs and industry leaders, are expected to attend.
Uy outlined five major talking points for the summit:
- Fair valuation
- Local competitiveness
- Real Property Valuation and Assessment Reform Act
- Housing affordability
- Cost resilience
He added that developers have seen fewer project launches this year, underscoring the need for urgent action.
Expert Insights
Government officials and industry leaders will provide perspectives on taxation, policy, design, and costs.
Douglas Rufino, BIR Region 7 Director, will discuss taxation and regulatory issues while Jennifer Bretaña, NEDA-7 Regional Director, will share an economic outlook.
Franco Soberano, Cebu Landmasters CEO, and Dr. Winston Padojinog, economist, will examine market conditions.
Edgar Saavedra, Megawide CEO, will focus on construction costs and affordability.
Palafox Associates will present sustainable and cost-effective design strategies.
SHDA National President Kerwin Padua has also been invited to join the discussions.
Housing Backlog and Market Sentiment
The government estimates the country’s housing backlog at 3.7 million units, a deficit that continues to grow as regulatory delays slow project launches.
Salimbangon stressed that this shortage underscores the need to streamline approvals. Developers acknowledge the need for agencies to carefully review project documents but warn that prolonged processes keep new housing units from reaching the market.
Uy noted that developers face a difficult year, with fewer launches compared to previous years.
Pueblo de Oro Development Corp. Vice President John Paul Escario added that consumer hesitation, not lack of demand, is affecting sales. “People are holding on to their money because of uncertainties coming from the Iran-US war and rising gas prices. Once the crisis is over, everything will go back to normal,” he said.
Strategic Output
SHDA-CV plans to consolidate issues and recommendations from the summit into a position paper for submission to the national leadership. The document will serve as a unified industry stance on regulatory reform and cost resilience.
Housing Summit crucial
For SHDA-CV, the Housing Summit 2026 is more than an annual gathering—it is a strategic response to regulatory friction and global pressures.
By fostering open communication with authorities and presenting a consolidated position, the association seeks to protect industry viability while keeping affordable housing within reach for Filipino families.
