Cement is the single most-consumed material in Philippine residential construction. A standard 100 sqm reinforced-concrete house uses roughly 340 bags — about 6–8% of the total build budget. Prices vary by type, brand, and delivery distance, but national retail averages have been stable within ±2% since Q3 2025 thanks to steady clinker supply from domestic plants (Holcim La Union, Republic Bulacan, Eagle Cebu).
Below are current retail prices for the four cement types you'll encounter at hardware stores. These are delivered/pickup prices, not DPWH at-source rates — what you actually pay, not what government procurement documents quote.
| Type | Brand | Price | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type 1 (Ordinary Portland) | Holcim Excel / Republic / Eagle | ₱253/bag | General concrete, foundations, columns, beams — the default for residential builds. |
| Type 1P (Blended Pozzolan) | Holcim Wallright / Island / Grand | ₱270/bag | Resistant to chemical attack. Used for marine structures, industrial floors, and sulfate-rich soil. |
| Type 2 (Moderate Sulfate Resistant) | Republic Type II / Holcim Coastal | ₱295/bag | Coastal areas, foundations in high-sulfate soils (Visayas, Mindanao shoreline builds). |
| Masonry Cement | Holcim M / Republic M / Eagle M | ₱220/bag | Plastering, CHB laying, non-structural mortar. NOT for structural concrete — lower compressive strength. |
Sources: hardware-store averages in Metro Manila, CALABARZON, Central Visayas, Western Visayas. DPWH CMPD Q2 2025 (DO 125 s.2025) used as cross-reference. PSA CMRPI March 2026 confirms ±1.3% YoY stability.
Use our interactive calculator above to estimate bags for your specific build size. Based on a complete reinforced-concrete house (foundations, columns, beams, slab, walls, plastering). Economy builds use ~3.0 bags/sqm; premium with thicker slabs and more concrete work can exceed 4.0.
| Floor Area | bags Needed | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 60 sqm | 204 bags | ₱51,612 |
| 100 sqm | 340 bags | ₱86,020 |
| 150 sqm | 510 bags | ₱129,030 |
For a 100 sqm standard-finish house costing roughly ₱3,500,000 total, cement represents about 7% of the budget.
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Roughly 340 bags of Type 1 Portland cement (3.4 bags per sqm of floor area). This covers foundations, columns, beams, floor slab, walls (CHB + plaster), and roof slab if applicable. Economy single-storey builds can get away with ~300 bags; a two-storey premium build with a concrete roof deck may need 400+. Your Bill of Quantities will give you the exact count per structural element.
Type 1 (Ordinary Portland Cement) is the general-purpose standard — suitable for almost all residential concrete work. Type 1P is blended with pozzolanic materials (fly ash or volcanic ash), which makes it more resistant to sulfate attack and reduces heat of hydration. Type 1P costs about ₱17 more per bag. For a standard house on non-coastal, non-sulfate soil, Type 1 is the correct choice. Type 1P is worth the premium if you're building near the sea, on reclaimed land, or in areas with high water tables.
Type 2 (Moderate Sulfate Resistant) at ₱295/bag is the engineering-correct choice for coastal builds in Visayas, Mindanao, and island municipalities. It resists chloride penetration and sulfate attack from saltwater exposure. Type 1P is a cheaper alternative (₱270) that offers partial sulfate resistance. Using standard Type 1 in a coastal environment risks premature rebar corrosion and concrete spalling — the repair cost far exceeds the ₱42/bag difference over a 340-bag build (about ₱14,000 total).
Retail prices for the same cement type are within ₱5–10 per bag across major brands (Holcim, Republic, Eagle, Island). The price difference is driven more by delivery distance and dealer margins than by brand. In Luzon, Republic often has a slight edge because its Bulacan plant is closer to Metro Manila dealers. In Visayas, Eagle (Cebu plant) tends to be cheapest. In Mindanao, Holcim and Cemex (Iligan) compete closely. Buy whichever brand your nearest hardware carries — the spec-sheet performance for the same type designation (Type 1, Type 1P, Type 2) is standardized by PNS.
No. Masonry cement (₱220/bag) is formulated for mortar — plastering walls and laying CHB. It has lower compressive strength (typically 10–15 MPa) compared to Type 1 Portland (28+ MPa at 28 days). Using masonry cement in columns, beams, footings, or slabs is a structural failure risk and violates the National Structural Code of the Philippines (NSCP). Some contractors substitute masonry cement to cut costs — this is one of the red flags our Contractor Quote Audit checks for. If your quote lists 'cement' without specifying the type, ask which one.
Sources: DPWH CMPD Q1-Q2 2025 (Department Order 125 s.2025), PSA CMRPI 2026, hardware-store price surveys.