NGO backs govt’s 4PH program
A housing non-government organization (NGO) hopes to makethe government’s Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino (4PH) program, which aims to build six million houses during his term to address the country’s housing backlog.
Mardi Mapa-Suplido, chief executive officer of Habitat for Humanity Philippines, at the “Build Beyond Today” luncheon recently expressed optimism the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), the main implementer of the 4PH program, can consider its multi-modal approach that best fits certain situations of Filipinos, especially those residing in rural areas.
Habitat for Humanity is currently using the eco-friendly cement bamboo frame technology (CBFT) that can weather natural disasters and reduce carbon emissions for its housing project in Negros Occidental, in partnership with the Hilti Foundation and the Base Bahay Foundation.
One of the largest international housing non-government organizations in the world, Habitat for Humanity has been in the Philippines for 35 years and has already built more than 150,000 houses for underprivileged Filipinos.
“We’ve already built almost 500 of these CBFT houses in Negros. We have about 322 in Silay and we’re building 40 more now. We’ve built 60 in San Carlos and we’re building more,” Mapa-Suplido said, adding they are aiming for an additional 2,000 housing units this year.
“The cement-bamboo frame not only builds houses but also contributes to the local economy and the resiliency of the Philippines as a whole,” she added.
Johann Baar, director of Affordable Housing and Technology at HIlti Foundation, introduced at the event innovative bamboo housing technologies aimed at assisting vulnerable informal settler families to different national and local government officials.
Baar said bamboo is the perfect material for building affordable housing projects due to its resiliency, sustainability, and affordability. “We’ve tested bamboo in our labs for many years regarding its resiliency. It’s strong and flexible at the same time,” he said.
When produced according to the standards of Hilti Foundation, a non-profit that provides technical solutions to construction initiatives, Barr said bamboo can withstand wind speeds of up to 250 kilometers per hour and earthquakes up to 7.5 on the Richter Scale.
“Supply is not an issue as bamboo is a local material,” he pointed out, adding it creates employment and knowledge even in remote parts of the country because it is harvested and treated locally.
“Our study showed that bamboo’s ecological performance is 70 percent better than conventional materials, and it is affordable,” Baar said.
Providing indigent families in Silay City, Negros Occidental with a home they can call their own through Hilti Foundation’s partnership with Habitat for Humanity and Base Bahay Foundation gives them security that extends to different fields of their lives.
The luncheon—jointly held by Hilti Foundation, Habitat for Humanity, and Base Bahay Foundation—was attended by Swiss Embassy deputy chief of mission Tim Fí¼rst, Negros Occidental 3rd District Rep. Kiko Benitez, Pinuno Partylist Rep. Howard Ivan Guintu, DHSUD Undersecretary Samuel Young, and legislative officers of different senators and congressmen.
