PHINMA CoHo Corp., the community housing arm of PHINMA Corp., is urging stronger private sector involvement to help close the Philippines’ widening housing gap, emphasizing that coordinated efforts across industries are crucial to addressing the country’s long-standing shelter deficit.
“The private sector can influence policies and foster partnerships that make housing more accessible, particularly for low-income workers,” PHINMA CoHo President and CEO Luis Oquiñena said in a statement. He highlighted the value of collaboration among the academe, government agencies, and civil society to create inclusive housing solutions.
Oquiñena also encouraged developers to adopt a “street-view” approach—one that prioritizes the lived experiences and day-to-day realities of low-income families when designing communities.
To strengthen the nation’s community housing ecosystem, he pointed to the need for reforms that simplify loan takeout processes, streamline construction permits, and promote sustainable yet affordable building technologies. He added that government investment in climate-resilient housing is essential, especially as natural disasters continue to damage communities across Cebu, Davao, and Bicol.
The Philippines currently faces a housing backlog of 6.5 million units, a number that could surge to 22 million by 2040 if unaddressed, according to the United Nations Human Settlements Programme.
During a forum last month, PHINMA Corp. Chairman and CEO Ramon R. del Rosario, Jr. stressed that delivering affordable, scalable housing solutions has become an urgent priority. “Our society is faced with so many problems, and so many of those problems can be better addressed if the business community puts its resources together,” he said. “Today, we would like to explore how we can do housing for the underserved in a meaningful and scalable way.”
PHINMA CoHo is preparing to break ground on its first housing project in Davao this month, a development expected to accommodate more than 500 families.
PHINMA Corp. recently reported a ₱216.45-million net loss for the first nine months of the year, attributed to weaker performances in its property, construction materials, and hospitality segments. On Monday, PHINMA Corp. shares slipped 0.12% to close at ₱16.38.
