Construction project delays remain a pervasive challenge in the Philippines, particularly in Baguio City where geographic and climatic constraints compound traditional project management issues. This study examines how material shortages and inadequate planning contribute to delays in private construction projects within this mountainous urban environment. A qualitative research design was employed, utilizing semi-structured interviews with 23 stakeholders, including project managers, contractors, architects, engineers, and project owners, supplemented by project documentation. Data were analyzed through thematic analysis to identify recurring patterns and contextual drivers of delay. Findings reveal that supply-side limitations are central to the emergence of material shortages, driven by Baguio’s mountainous terrain, restricted road accessibility, and unpredictable weather that consistently disrupt logistics. Planning deficiencies further exacerbate delays, including unrealistic scheduling based on lowland benchmarks, inaccurate cost estimation that ignores transport surcharges, and insufficient risk assessment of local hazards. Stakeholder perspectives diverged: contractors attributed delays to owner-related financial instability and scope deviations, while design teams were criticized for imposing non-local material specifications. These results highlight the compounded impact of geographic constraints on project management, demonstrating how traditional delay variables are intensified in Baguio’s context. The study underscores the need for adaptive planning protocols that integrate localized scheduling, risk matrices, and collaborative delivery strategies. The research contributes to project management literature by showing that construction delays in Baguio City are not solely the result of universal factors but are uniquely shaped by environmental and logistical realities. A proposed “Baguio-Adjusted Planning Protocol” offers a holistic framework to mitigate these challenges through data-driven scheduling, contingency planning, and enhanced stakeholder collaboration.

Keywords: construction delays, material shortages, project planning, supply chain management, Baguio City