Issues and Challenges in the Philippine Construction Industry: An Opportunity for BIM Adoption

Abstract

The construction industry is widely regarded as the driving force behind global economic growth. The Philippines recorded a GDP increase of 11.8% in the second quarter of 2021. The construction industry is one of the main contributors, with a growth rate of 25.7%. However, the industry faces numerous challenges and issues, the most well-known of which involve the iron triangle of project management, attributed mainly to poor technology adoption, resulting in massive declines in productivity. Building Information Modeling (BIM) is a popular technology with proven benefits, as demonstrated by countries that have mandated its use. However, BIM is said to be in its infancy in the Philippines. Construction professionals have a low level of awareness, and BIM is primarily used by firms that are outsourcing their services for international projects. This study aims to identify construction industry issues and their degree of occurrence in Philippine construction. The study also seeks to determine the current state of BIM and identify the current BIM applications to resolve these issues. The study utilized a mixed-methods approach involving a literature review and a structured survey. Data analysis includes Cronbach’s alpha for reliability testing, descriptive statistics, the Relative Importance Index (RII), and Kendall’s W test.