LAND PRICES AND HOUSING IN MANILA

For decades, exceptionally high land prices in Metropolitan Manila have co-existed with much vacant urban land. A 1991 survey of 3003 households suggests, however, that, by the standards of other countries, neither dwelling prices nor rents are high in Manila compared with family incomes. Relatively high land prices have instead led households to spend much less on structures and to accept low housing welfare although the availability of skilled construction labour, materials and finance has been fairly good and improving. Households must also endure much settlement insecurity and residential immobility worse than international norms. High land prices are related to negligible property taxation and to impediments to land markets and infrastructure development.