In attendance: (Government) ARTA; BCDA; CIAP-CIAC, CMDF, PCAB, and PDCB; DEPDev; DILG; DOLE; DOST-PCIEERD; DOTr; DPWH-NBCDO; DTI-BPRI; House Committee on Public Works; PPP Center; PRC; (Private Sector) CeMAP; CIPE; ESCA; OSHDP; PCA; PSME; REID; SPCI; SPECS; Surbana Jurong; Triumph Development; and UAP.
25 March 2026, MAKATI CITY – The Construction Industry Authority of the Philippines (CIAP), through the Philippine Domestic Construction Board (PDCB), conducted a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) on 24 March 2026 at the Builder’s Lounge, Architectural Center Club, Inc. (ACCI), Makati City. The activity is part of the development of the Philippine Construction Industry Roadmap (2020-2030) Mid-Term Report and served as a platform for government and private sector stakeholders to assess the progress of the Roadmap Action Plans and identify priority areas for the remainder of its implementation.
The Roadmap, adopted in 2019 as a joint public-private sector initiative, sets out a ten-year strategic framework to transform the Philippine construction industry into a globally competitive, sustainable, and innovation-driven sector. It is anchored on the vision of generating ₱130 trillion in construction business over the decade and is guided by the principle of “Tatag at Tapat, Building with Integrity.” The FGD is a key step in assessing what has been accomplished at the midpoint and determining where efforts should be focused in the remaining years through 2030.
In his opening remarks, PDCB Chairman Engr. Levy Espiritu recalled the bold commitments made when the Roadmap was launched. Among them are the growth of licensed contractors from approximately 11,000 to 46,000, a fivefold increase in labor productivity, and ₱1 billion in construction service exports. He acknowledged that significant work remains and called on stakeholders to engage openly and honestly in the discussions, emphasizing that the remaining four years of the Roadmap represent a critical and still-achievable window of opportunity.
“The Roadmap was never designed as a government document alone. It was, from the very beginning, a shared commitment — across government agencies, the private sector, professional organizations, the academe, and every stakeholder who had a hand in shaping it. That spirit of collective ownership must be renewed today, stronger than ever.” – Engr. Levy Espiritu, PDCB Chairman, Opening Remarks
The FGD featured a dynamic presentation by Prof. Ronilo M. Balbieran, the Roadmap’s lead consultant, who provided a comprehensive overview of the global and national economic landscape relative to the construction industry, and a review of the Roadmap’s implementation status across its four strategic pillars: Institutions, Productivity, Sustainability, and Globalization. Prof. Balbieran identified areas of progress alongside persistent gaps and outlined the key challenges that must be addressed in the remaining implementation period.
On the matter of governance and industry conduct, Prof. Balbieran stressed the need for high ethical standards to be supported by concrete structural mechanisms. He called for a strong rewards and punishment system within the industry: one that consistently recognizes compliance and penalizes violations, and for a demonstrably higher probability of detection of unethical behavior. He noted that without credible enforcement, governance commitments risk remaining aspirational rather than effective.
The FGD sessions were facilitated by Mr. Romulo S. Romero, Ph.D., an institutional development expert with extensive experience in facilitated planning for government agencies. Using a structured framework, Dr. Romero guided participants through an assessment of the Roadmap’s progress and a forward-looking discussion on priority areas.
Two themes consistently emerged across the discussions as the most pressing concerns of stakeholders:
First, on good governance: participants across sectors raised concerns about procurement irregularities, inconsistent regulatory enforcement, delayed government payments to contractors, and the absence of adequate accountability mechanisms at various levels of project implementation. There was broad consensus that the industry’s transformation cannot be fully realized without meaningful improvements in the governance environment, including more transparent contract awarding, faster dispute resolution, and stronger anti-corruption measures.
Second, on digitalization: stakeholders called for the accelerated mainstream adoption of digital technologies throughout the construction process, from design and planning to execution and asset management. Key issues cited included the slow uptake of Building Information Modeling (BIM), the lack of interoperable digital platforms, and insufficient digital competency among construction workers. Participants urged relevant agencies to develop a clear national digital construction strategy and to establish incentive mechanisms for industry adoption, particularly for small and medium-sized contractors.
A special message delivered after the FGD reaffirmed the Roadmap’s foundational principle as the industry’s guiding direction. The message emphasized that “Tatag at Tapat, Building with Integrity” is not merely a program slogan but the non-negotiable standard against which all Roadmap initiatives must be measured.
Mr. Anthony Mariano, an industry expert and one of the co-leads in the development of the Roadmap in 2018, underscored that the “North Star” of the construction industry is Tatag at Tapat or Building with Integrity. Every endeavor pursued by the sector—every policy, program, and project—must be guided by this principle. Integrity is not simply one of our values; it is the foundation upon which everything else is built.
PDCB Executive Director Doris U. Gacho delivered the closing remarks, expressing appreciation to all participants for their engagement and to the technical team that supported the activity. She acknowledged Prof. Balbieran for his sustained commitment as Roadmap consultant since its inception, and Dr. Romero for his facilitation of the day’s discussions.
ED Gacho underscored that the FGD is not only a backward-looking assessment but a reaffirmation of the collective commitment to see the Roadmap through to completion. She assured participants that all inputs from the discussions would be reflected in the Mid-Term Report, which will be disseminated to stakeholders upon completion.
“Rest assured that you will be furnished with the Roadmap Mid-Term Report soon. Let us continue to build, strengthen, and realize the vision of a better construction industry for our country.” – Executive Director Doris U. Gacho