Developers innovate against backdrop of steady economic growth as 14th PropertyGuru Philippines Property Awards launch

Consumer-driven awards and new titles for condo developers, first-home projects, and marina developments among new categories in 2026 programme

MANILA, Philippines — Experts, authorities, and award-winning developers gathered today at Asia Connect Manila marking the launch of the PropertyGuru Philippines Property Awards programme, returning for its 14th edition in 2026 with new categories synced to market dynamics.

The gala dinner and presentation of the 14th PropertyGuru Philippines Property Awards will be held Thursday, 20 August 2026, ahead of the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards Grand Final in December 2026 in which winners from the Philippines will compete for the title of Best in Asia.

Key dates for the 2026 edition are:

• 19 June 2026 – Entries Close
• 6-28 July 2026 – Site Inspections
• 13-26 July – People’s Choice Awards voting period
• 20 August 2026 – Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony in Manila, Philippines
• 11 December 2026 – Regional Grand Final Gala Dinner and Awards Presentation in Bangkok, Thailand

Opportunities and challenges

Asia Connect Manila 2026, held at the Blackbird at the Nielson Tower, tackled opportunities and challenges in the Philippine property market amid positive economic growth projections.

The Philippines enters 2026 as one of Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing economies, its GDP expected to expand following a moderation in late 2025. Supported by new ecozones, infrastructure developments, housing initiatives, and investor-friendly policies, this stable growth sets the stage for developers to deliver more market-aligned projects befitting the awards.

The 14th PropertyGuru Philippines Property Awards will honour such projects and more as part of the prestigious PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards series recognising achievements across 10 Asia-Pacific markets. In the Philippines, the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards sets the benchmark for outstanding achievement across various asset classes, portfolios, and ESG-driven achievements. This year’s expanded lineup features categories determined by both an independent panel of judges and, for the first time, consumers themselves.

Expanded list of categories

An expanded list of categories in 2026 awaits competitors from more segments of the real estate industry. They include titles such as Best Condo Developer; Best Affordable Housing Development (Luzon); Best First Home Development; Best Wellness Hospitality Development; Best Marina Development; and Best Landmark Development.

In addition, this year will debut accolades known as the People’s Choice Awards in the Philippines. Introduced at the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards editions in Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam, these consumer-driven accolades, voted for by residents of the Philippines, let property seekers recognise the top 10 developers in the country. All parent companies of developers in the judged categories automatically qualify for these awards, supported by Inquirer Property.

Jules Kay, general manager of PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards and Events, said: “Philippine real estate is entering a new era characterised by scale, sustainability, and strong economic momentum. Last year’s awards included around 70 diverse categories and celebrated excellence across varied asset classes, from affordable housing and luxury condominiums to townships and industrial estates. With global institutions forecasting solid economic growth, developers are delivering smarter, greener, and more market-responsive projects. These trends point to an industry that is decentralising, innovating, and positioning itself to support the country’s long-term growth. We look forward to seeing the finest developers raise the bar once again at the awards.”

Strength on display

The diversity of Philippine real estate excellence was on display at the 2025 edition of the PropertyGuru Philippines Property Awards, with developers from across the archipelago garnering top honours.

Aboitiz Economic Estates emerged as one of the strongest performers, named Best Industrial Developer in the Philippines for the fifth consecutive year. Multiple honours, across projects like LIMA Estate, LIMA Tower One, The Villages at LIMA Estate, and TARI Estate, attest to the appeal of the company’s master-planned estates, which host over 260 locators and have generated more than 100,000 jobs. Seafront Residences also showcased Aboitiz Land’s excellence in waterfront development, part of a fully integrated solutions platform in which Aboitiz Economic Estates provides reliable utilities and infrastructure alongside housing and workforce pipelines.

Related: 13th PropertyGuru Philippines Property Awards spotlight diverse real estate achievements

Jolan Formalejo, vice president for project delivery at Aboitiz Economic Estates, said: “These awards highlight how industrial growth, residential innovation, and sustainable community planning can converge to generate long-term economic value, create inclusive opportunities, and strengthen the nation’s competitiveness in the region.”

He added: “As industrial estate developers, we don’t just compete locally. We compete regionally. Our benchmark is not only the Philippine market; it’s other ASEAN peers. And we recognise that the Philippines faces structural challenges, from higher operating costs to infrastructure and talent gaps. But instead of accepting those constraints, we built around them. At Aboitiz Economic Estates, our strategy has been to create a purpose-built, smart, and sustainable ecosystem that addresses those gaps directly.”

Distinguished industry leaders

A distinguished panel of industry leaders will oversee a rigorous, independent judging process, evaluating entries under the supervision of HLB, the global network of independent advisory and accounting firms. The 2026 judging panel comprises executives and senior practitioners from the Philippines’ real estate industry, showcasing multi-disciplinary representation with fairness, transparency, and credibility.

Cyndy Tan Jarabata, chairperson of the independent judging panel and president of TAJARA Leisure & Hospitality Group Inc., said: “We look forward to the 14th PropertyGuru Philippines Property Awards as leading developers shift from building homes to building communities, responding more thoughtfully to property seekers’ needs nationwide. We see diversification in assets as well as bold new strategies, with intrepid companies pursuing growth in secondary markets just beyond Metro Manila, Cebu, and Davao, led in part by innovative boutique developers with localised knowledge in emerging prime locations. We also launch the Awards as infrastructure drives the real estate industry forward, with airport modernisation across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, along with new routes and privatisations, boosting national connectivity, efficiency, and liveability. Overall, the industry is embracing greater public accountability and service orientation, qualities which this year’s winners will undoubtedly reflect.”

The 14th PropertyGuru Philippines Property Awards builds on the momentum of the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards series, which last year presented over 660 award categories throughout Asia Pacific.

The 14th PropertyGuru Philippines Property Awards is supported by gold sponsor Boysen Paints; official newspaper The Philippine Star; official print and online news partner Inquirer Property; official magazine Property Report by PropertyGuru; official publicity partner Ripple8; media partners Bridges, BusinessWorld, Manila Bulletin, Philippine Daily Inquirer, PhilStar Property Report PH, and Real Estate News PH; and official supervisor HLB.

For more information, email [email protected] or visit the official website: AsiaPropertyAwards.com.