MAKATI CITY | September 30, 2025
The Philippines has entered a decisive moment in its infrastructure journey. With rapid urban growth, heightened demand for accountability, and a digitally adept workforce, the time has come for the construction sector to move beyond fragmentation and embrace a shared vision for progress.
Answering this call, the founding committee of buildingSMART Philippines has formally launched the nation’s chapter of the global standards organization dedicated to advancing openBIM (Building Information Modeling). As part of a worldwide movement, buildingSMART Philippines will lead the digital transformation of the country’s Architecture, Engineering, Construction, Operations, and Ownership (AECOO) industry.
A Common Digital Language for Collaboration
At the heart of this initiative lies a clear mission: to create a universal digital framework that enables seamless exchange of information across people, platforms, and processes. By ensuring interoperability, openBIM empowers collaboration, enhances efficiency, and strengthens accountability at every stage of a project’s lifecycle.
Overcoming the “Readiness Paradox”
The Philippines is home to a generation fluent in digital tools, yet its construction industry has been slow to adopt standardized workflows. This “Readiness Paradox” has produced inefficiencies and data silos that impede innovation. buildingSMART Philippines aims to bridge this divide by providing a neutral, non-profit platform rooted in open standards such as Industry Foundation Classes (IFC). With these foundations, the nation’s digital talent can catalyze lasting and systemic transformation.
Building Confidence in Public Infrastructure
The launch also aligns with the government’s Build, Better, More program, where massive investment is matched by equally high expectations for transparency. In this environment, open standards are not just technical mechanisms, they are instruments of trust that ensure integrity, clarity, and responsible stewardship of public resources.
“The formation of buildingSMART Philippines is a direct response to a national imperative,” said a representative of the founding committee. “By championing open standards, we are laying the foundations for trust, collaboration, and efficiency in Philippine infrastructure. Our vision is a future where data flows seamlessly, projects deliver greater value, and the Philippines strengthens its place in the global digital economy.”
Academic partners echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the critical role of education. “Embedding open standards in our curricula will equip future professionals with the skills to thrive in a connected industry. This is how we prepare the next generation not just for local practice, but for leadership on the global stage,” said a university representative involved in the initiative.
Strategic Pathways
To fulfill its mission, buildingSMART Philippines will focus on three priorities:
- Public Sector Partnership: Collaborating with government agencies to embed open standards into national infrastructure projects.
- Industry–Academia Collaboration: Working with universities to cultivate a digitally fluent workforce.
- Market Integration: Promoting shared principles across the private sector to reduce fragmentation and harmonize practices.
The establishment of buildingSMART Philippines is more than an organizational milestone; it is also an industry turning point. By connecting people, knowledge, and technology through open standards, the chapter seeks to create a more resilient, transparent, and digitally empowered construction sector. This is a sector that not only delivers infrastructure for today but also builds the foundations of national progress and global competitiveness for future generations.
