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Manila Bulletin devider Business devider Trade & Industry devider Philippine construction boom takes center stage as WORLDBEX 2026 opens in Manila

Philippine construction boom takes center stage as WORLDBEX 2026 opens in Manila

Published Mar 18, 2026 01:17 pm
From left: Worldbex Services International (WSI) Director Rene Ramos, Architect Francisco Flameño, WSI Co-Founder Levi Ang, and Pasay City Chief of Staff Peter Pardo join Senior Deputy Speaker Ferdinand L. Hernandez, WSI Founding Chairman Joseph L. Ang, Department of Tourism Undersecretary Myra Paz Valderrosa Abubakar, WSI Director Tessie Roque, and WSI Managing Director Jill Aithnie Ang for the official ribbon-cutting ceremony marking the opening of the 29th Philippine World Building and Construction Exposition at the World Trade Center Metro Manila on March 11, 2026. The four-day event serves as the country’s premier platform for showcasing infrastructure innovation and sustainable design.
From left: Worldbex Services International (WSI) Director Rene Ramos, Architect Francisco Flameño, WSI Co-Founder Levi Ang, and Pasay City Chief of Staff Peter Pardo join Senior Deputy Speaker Ferdinand L. Hernandez, WSI Founding Chairman Joseph L. Ang, Department of Tourism Undersecretary Myra Paz Valderrosa Abubakar, WSI Director Tessie Roque, and WSI Managing Director Jill Aithnie Ang for the official ribbon-cutting ceremony marking the opening of the 29th Philippine World Building and Construction Exposition at the World Trade Center Metro Manila on March 11, 2026. The four-day event serves as the country’s premier platform for showcasing infrastructure innovation and sustainable design.
The Philippines’ largest building and design exposition opened its doors on Wednesday, March 18, signaling a robust outlook for the nation's infrastructure and real estate sectors as industry leaders gathered to showcase technologies aimed at modernizing the archipelago’s urban landscape.
The 29th edition of the Philippine World Building and Construction Exposition, known as WORLDBEX, launched simultaneously at the World Trade Center Metro Manila and the SMX Convention Center. This year’s event, themed “Building Opportunities, Sustaining Lives,” arrives as the Philippine government continues to prioritize infrastructure spending to drive economic momentum. The four-day trade show serves as a critical barometer for the local construction industry, which remains a primary contributor to the country’s gross domestic product.
Joseph L. Ang, founding chairman of Worldbex Services International, opened the festivities by emphasizing the event's evolution into a global nexus for architectural and engineering innovation. Over nearly three decades, the platform has facilitated billions of pesos in potential trade leads and networking opportunities. Ang noted that the exposition has consistently brought together professionals from across the globe to highlight groundbreaking innovations that define the modern built environment.
The scale of the event reflects the steady capital flight into Philippine real estate and public works. While specific transaction targets for this year were not immediately disclosed, previous iterations have seen exhibitors secure contracts totaling millions of pesos in equipment and material orders. The presence of high-ranking government officials underscored the strategic importance of the sector. Senior Deputy Speaker Ferdinand L. Hernandez, representing House Speaker Faustino G. Dy III, delivered the keynote address, describing WORLDBEX as a vital engine for national growth. Hernandez remarked that the exposition has become the definitive space where technology and talent converge to design the structures of the future.
The diplomatic presence at the opening also hinted at increasing foreign direct investment interest in Philippine infrastructure. Ambassadors and trade representatives from Malaysia, India, Poland, and Thailand attended the ceremonies, suggesting a competitive landscape for international suppliers looking to tap into the Philippine market. Local governance was represented by the office of Pasay City Mayor Imelda Calixto-Rubiano, while the Department of Tourism highlighted the intersection of construction and the country's growing hospitality requirements.
As the organization prepares for its 30th anniversary milestone in 2027, the current exhibition aims to bridge the gap between traditional building methods and sustainable, "green" technologies. The event, which runs through March 15, is organized for the benefit of the ABS-CBN Foundation Inc., maintaining a philanthropic link to its commercial activities. With free registration available to the public, the exposition is expected to draw thousands of visitors, from independent contractors to institutional developers, all seeking to navigate the evolving demands of the Philippine construction landscape.
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