# School Construction Cost Planning: Manila, Philippines > Manila school cost planning using the World Bank ICP 2021 national construction price-level index of 49.3, plus a GeoNames-based local comparable-search shortlist. - Canonical: https://harth.build/resources/construction-costs/school-construction-cost-manila-ph/ - Last updated: 2026-09-15 - Data source: National screening observation from the [World Bank ICP 2021 API](https://api.worldbank.org/v2/sources/90/country/PHL/classification/PX.WL/series/1501200/time/YR2021/data?format=json) and [ICP data documentation](https://www.worldbank.org/en/programs/icp/data); locality and population from the [GeoNames PH dump](https://download.geonames.org/export/dump/PH.zip) (CC BY 4.0 snapshot 2026-08-26, GeoNames ID 1701668). The PLI is not a city cost/m² rate, current escalation series or tender estimate. ## Key facts | Fact | Value | | --- | --- | | National construction PLI | 49.3 (World Bank ICP 2021; World = 100) | | Screening ratio to world | 0.493 (dimensionless PLI ÷ 100; not a city location factor) | | Locality reference | 14.6042, 120.9822 (GeoNames ID 1701668) | | Snapshot population | 1,600,000 (4 of 50 listed Philippines places) | | Nearest listed peer | Caloocan · 5 km (great-circle distance between GeoNames reference points) | | Estimate currency | PHP (obtain a current local rate and named base date) | ## Direct answer For early school construction cost planning in Manila, the World Bank ICP reports a 2021 Philippines construction price-level index of 49.3, with the world equal to 100. This is a national comparison—not a Manila PHP/m² rate or tender estimate—so replace it with current local evidence before budgeting or procurement. The observation covers construction across Philippines in 2021; it does not measure a Manila market basket or current school tenders. GeoNames 1701668 records the locality at 14.6042, 120.9822, with snapshot population 1,600,000. That ranks Manila 4 of 50 listed places, while Caloocan is the nearest listed peer at about 5 km. Use these facts only to plan the comparable search. Obtain current local rates on a consistent area basis, then reconcile scope, taxes, fees, contingency and escalation. Retain the source, base date and reviewer when local evidence replaces the screening ratio. *Content and cited inputs reviewed by [Scott Barrington](https://nz.linkedin.com/in/barrington), Harth founder and architectural technology specialist · Published 2026-08-26 · Updated 2026-09-15.* ## What does the 49.3 construction index mean? The World Bank ICP 2021 construction PLI for **Philippines is 49.3**, compared with a world benchmark of 100. It is a national spatial price comparison assembled for the 2021 reference year. It does not say that school work in Manila costs 0.493 times a current world rate. ## Which Manila inputs are known? The reproducible locality point is **14.6042, 120.9822** (GeoNames 1701668). Its snapshot population is **1,600,000**, ranked 4 of 50 listed places; GeoNames classifies it as a national capital in administrative area NCR. These facts shape the local comparable search, not the price. ## What must a project estimate add? For a Manila school project, reconcile teaching spaces, specialist rooms, safeguarding, sports provision and external works. Use a consistent gross-floor-area basis and record the following before reliance. | Estimate field | Screening record | Project requirement | | --- | --- | --- | | National context | ICP 2021 PLI 49.3 | Retain only as dated cross-country context | | Local PHP/m² rate | Not supplied | Current comparable with named source and base date | | Area and scope | Gross floor area; scope unresolved | Measurement standard, specification and procurement route | | Additions | Not supplied | Taxes, fees, site work, contingency and escalation | | Review | Automated source and arithmetic QA | Qualified local cost review | ## Manila comparable-location search screen This shortlist is computed from the checked GeoNames snapshot. Distance and population help prioritize where to request comparables; neither is used as a cost multiplier. | Listed place | Great-circle km from Manila | Snapshot population | Admin area | | --- | ---: | ---: | --- | | Caloocan | 5 | 1,712,945 | NCR | | Mandaluyong | 6 | 425,000 | NCR | | Mandaluyong City | 7 | 465,902 | NCR | | Pasay | 8 | 416,522 | NCR | | Makati City | 8 | 510,383 | NCR | | Davao | 978 | 1,848,947 | 11 | | Taguig | 14 | 1,308,085 | NCR | | Budta | 905 | 1,273,715 | 14 | ## Price-level normalization worksheet For a validated reference rate **R** from a country with construction PLI **P**, the transparent screening calculation is **R × (49.3 ÷ P)**. At P = 100 the dimensionless ratio is 0.493; no world cost rate is asserted. Keep the reference rate's currency, base date, area basis and scope attached. | Input | Recorded value | Release condition | | --- | --- | --- | | Target national PLI | 49.3 (World = 100, 2021) | Screening context only | | Reference construction PLI P | User-supplied from the same ICP classification/year | Must match reference rate country | | Validated reference rate R | User-supplied | Named source, currency, date, area and scope | | Local Manila adjustment | Not asserted | Replace with current local comparable evidence | | Result status | Screening normalization | Not a budget, quote or tender estimate | ## Where can you explore related guidance? - [Explore all construction costs guidance](https://harth.build/resources/construction-costs.md) - [Office Construction Cost Planning: Manila, Philippines](https://harth.build/resources/construction-costs/office-construction-cost-manila-ph.md) - [House Construction Cost Planning: Manila, Philippines](https://harth.build/resources/construction-costs/house-construction-cost-manila-ph.md) - [Retail Construction Cost Planning: Manila, Philippines](https://harth.build/resources/construction-costs/retail-construction-cost-manila-ph.md) - [School Construction Cost Planning: Caloocan, Philippines](https://harth.build/resources/construction-costs/school-construction-cost-caloocan-ph.md) - [All construction costs guidance for Philippines](https://harth.build/resources/construction-costs/philippines.md) - [Sun Path: Manila, Philippines](https://harth.build/resources/solar-data/sun-path-manila-ph.md) ## Sources and method National screening observation from the [World Bank ICP 2021 API](https://api.worldbank.org/v2/sources/90/country/PHL/classification/PX.WL/series/1501200/time/YR2021/data?format=json) and [ICP data documentation](https://www.worldbank.org/en/programs/icp/data); locality and population from the [GeoNames PH dump](https://download.geonames.org/export/dump/PH.zip) (CC BY 4.0 snapshot 2026-08-26, GeoNames ID 1701668). The PLI is not a city cost/m² rate, current escalation series or tender estimate. ### Source links - [api.worldbank.org](https://api.worldbank.org/v2/sources/90/country/PHL/classification/PX.WL/series/1501200/time/YR2021/data?format=json) - [worldbank.org](https://www.worldbank.org/en/programs/icp/data) - [download.geonames.org](https://download.geonames.org/export/dump/PH.zip) ## Frequently asked questions ### Does the 49.3 index give a school cost per m² for Manila? No. 49.3 is the World Bank ICP 2021 national construction price-level index for Philippines, with the world equal to 100. It is a cross-country screening statistic, not a Manila PHP/m² rate, escalation index, quote or tender estimate. ### How should a Manila school estimate replace this screening benchmark? Collect current Manila comparables on a consistent gross-floor-area basis, reconcile teaching spaces, specialist rooms, safeguarding, sports provision and external works, and state base date, currency, taxes, fees, site work, contingency and escalation. A qualified local cost professional should review the resulting project estimate. --- - Continue in Harth (open this topic in the Harth agent): https://app.harth.build/agent?context=%2Fresources%2Fconstruction-costs%2Fschool-construction-cost-manila-ph%2F - View this page in a browser: https://harth.build/resources/construction-costs/school-construction-cost-manila-ph/ - All resources for agents: https://harth.build/llms.txt