THE Subdivision and Housing Developers Association (SHDA) is urging the government and private sector to adopt targeted housing solutions rooted in evolving demographic trends, as nearly a third of Filipino households now fall outside the traditional nuclear family structure.
The industry group made the call following a recent policy dialogue hosted by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), which highlighted the growing number of extended, multifamily and single-person households, patterns that challenge conventional housing policy frameworks.
“To meet the real and evolving needs of Filipino households, housing programs must go beyond a one-size-fits-all approach,” SHDA executive director Sonny Ducay said during the event titled “Rethinking Policies for Inclusive Living: Demographic Shifts and Housing Trends.”
Citing research from PIDS scholars MM Ballesteros, JA Ancheta, and TP Ramos, Ducay pointed to the rise of one-person households as a particularly significant trend, driven by rapid urban migration, an aging population and shifting family dynamics.
SHDA proposed a segmented housing policy framework to respond to these demographic changes, categorizing Filipino households into four groups based on their access to housing finance—no access, access but lack of affordability, access with subsidy needs and full access and affordability.
“This framework reinforces the need for differentiated and sustainable housing interventions that reflect the real capacities and contexts of Filipino households,” Ducay said.
Tailored models
For single-person households and young professionals, SHDA recommended affordable rentals and compact units near employment hubs, coupled with co-borrowing schemes.
Extended and multifamily households could benefit from shared-living models and adaptive reuse of idle housing stock, such as foreclosed government properties and vacated buildings formerly used by offshore gaming operators.
To address the needs of the elderly and persons with disabilities, SHDA called for retirement-friendly housing that complies with BP 344 accessibility standards, offering proximity to healthcare and community support to enable aging in place.
For urban migrant workers, the group advocated for rental developments integrated with transportation, essential services and livelihood support. SHDA also urged developers to support digital-era workers through smart, connected communities suited to hybrid or remote work. / KOC