Rethinking Institutional Reforms in the Philippine Housing Sector

Abstract

Why have housing reforms failed to achieve the desired improvements in housing in the Philippines? A review of trends in government housing strategies shows that while many problems in housing are linked to institutional barriers in the land and financial markets, government reforms simply focus on operational and program-specific issues. These reforms may be needed, but they can only be effective if basic institutional issues are first addressed. This book posits that the efficient functioning of the land and financial markets is necessary to the efficient functioning of the housing market, requiring government to undertake major reforms in land regulations and land administration infrastructure, including the implementation of an effective real property tax system.