CAMARINES Sur lawmakers have filed a bill mandating the use of precast concrete and other “leading-edge” construction techniques in building affordable homes as a way to close the government’s enormous housing backlog while cutting both cost and time and pushing for a low-carbon economy.
Rep. Miguel Luis “Migz” Villafuerte and his younger brother Luigi Villafuerte filed House Bill No. 2511, or the proposed “National Precast and Industrialized Construction Promotion Act” to maximize government’s efforts “to solve the country’s housing backlog, construction delays, and high costs associated with traditional building methods.”
The bill was co-authored by Rep. Tsuyoshi Anthony Horibata, also of Camarines Sur and Rep. Terry Ridon (PL, Bicol Saro).
“The adoption of modern solutions in the construction industry,such as the use of precast concrete and other industrialized construction techniques… offer faster, more efficient and potentially more sustainable, eco-friendly building solutions,” the bill said.
The bill said precast construction materials like panels, beams and columns “are manufactured off-site and made by pouring concrete into molds or forms, where such can cure and harden before being lifted and transported for use in buildings, bridges and for landscaping.”
The bill’s authors said precast construction has already “gained rapid and widespread adoption in, among others, the United States, United Kingdom and Germany, as well as in China and other Asia-Pacific countries that have accelerated infrastructure development.”
They said precast and industrialized construction methods are gaining global acceptance among developers of residential and commercial projects because of the numerous benefits, including “faster construction times, cost-effectiveness, and improved sustainability.”
Migz said the bill aims to advance “cleaner and cost-efficient construction methods by streamlining the construction process through the manufacture and use of precast and prefabricated components to boost the construction business.”
For his part, Luigi said the adoption of precast and prefabrication methods will “reduce construction-related carbon emissions and minimize on-site waste that shall be aligned with green building standards globally.”
The Villafuerte brothers said the bill, if enacted, is envisioned to narrow the housing shortage, “which, despite the government’s stepped-up efforts to address this issue, has remained huge because of rapid urbanization that worsens the exodus of countryside folk to urban centers and multiplies the already immense demand for affordable homes.”
The country has a housing backlog of 8.25 million units as of March 2025.
“Precast and industrialized construction can accelerate the building process, allowing for faster delivery of housing units and potentially reducing costs while being environmentally friendly,” they said. “The controlled environment of precast factories allows for better waste management and recycling of materials to reduce carbon emission,” they added.
The bill said precast construction will “improve efficiency and sustainability, as precast construction allows for the mass production of building components in a controlled factory environment, leading to greater precision and faster assembly on-site.”
“Reduced construction time translates into lower labor costs and faster project completion, making it more attractive for developers and investors,” Luigi said. “Such can contribute to more sustainable building practices in reducing waste, optimizing material usage, and minimizing on-site disturbances, especially in large-scale constructions such as buildings, bridges, and airports.”
While precast construction may require higher initial investment, the bill said “the long-term cost savings due to reduced labor, faster construction times, and lower maintenance costs can make it a more cost-effective solution.”
“In addition, our adoption of such technologies can boost employment and productivity by creating demand for skilled labor and local precast plants,” the lawmakers said. “It also supports the government’s green building goals through lower site waste, faster builds, and energy-efficient production.”
They said the measure is also expected to “attract investors and developers into the country that will definitely aid in boosting our economic status, as well as, keep up with international standards and trends.”
The bill aims to cover national government agencies (NGAs), local government units (LGUs), government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs), Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects, and private developers availing of government incentives for housing, tourism, and infrastructure development.
It mandates agencies like the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) and National Housing Authority (NHA) to prioritize precast construction or industrialized construction for all housing projects, including the administration’s 4PH program; and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Department of Transportation (DOTR) to do the same in public infrastructure projects such as bridges, public terminals, drainage, and highway components “whenever feasible.”
