Housing units in Bagong Silangan, QC, built with cement-bamboo frame technology, provide safe homes for 50 high-risk families, including those with persons with disabilities, and families in disaster-prone areas. Hilti foundation and Base Bahay Foundation, Inc. 

MANILA — Contrary to perceptions on its durability and strength, the bamboo remains to offer a solution in the quest for sustainable and resilient housing. 

A local non-profit foundation has been pioneering the use of bamboo cement technology to build affordable and disaster-resilient homes in the Philippines. 

Base Bahay, established 10 years ago by the Hilti Foundation, aims to provide alternative building technologies that meet the needs of local communities while addressing the pressing issues of housing shortages and climate resilience.

The centerpiece of Base Bahay's initiative is its cement-bamboo frame technology. This method involves constructing the frame of a house using treated bamboo, which is then reinforced with cement mortar. 

"If you look at the bamboo poles, may mga fibers 'yun na longitudinal (they have longitudinal fibers). If I'm going to take one of the fibers sa bamboo and test it for tensile strength, the tensile strength is even stronger than steel...'Yung fibers within the bamboo are very strong material, said Dr. Pablo Jorillo, General Manager of Base Bahay Foundation.

Bamboo house (model)

’STRONGER THAN STEEL’ 

By using locally grown and renewable materials such as bamboo, Base Bahay offers a sustainable solution to the housing crisis, particularly in areas prone to natural disasters. 

"Sa dami ng sakuna na nangyayari, importante na 'yung bahay resilient sa disasters. So, itong technology na 'to ay resilient sa typhoons, sa earthquakes, and all designed within the National Structural Code of the Philippines," said Maricen Jalandoni, President of Base Bahay Foundation.

(With the frequency of disasters occurring, it is important for homes to be resilient to such events. This technology is resilient to typhoons, earthquakes, and is designed in accordance with the National Structural Code of the Philippines.) 

Hilti foundation and Base Bahay Foundation, Inc. 

Base Bahay ensures that the bamboo used is of the structural grade and properly treated to resist pests, promising a lifespan of up to 50 to 100 years with proper maintenance. 

The foundation has already established six supply facilities in Nasugbu, Davao, Bukidnon, and Maguindanao, promoting local economies by sourcing bamboo from local farmers and creating jobs in bamboo treatment facilities. 

The bamboo cement frame technology allows for the construction of houses within three to four weeks. 

Its housing units cost approximately P9,000 to P12,000 per square meter, which according to them, is about 20 to 25% lower than traditional housing costs. 

Jalandoni believes this approach works especially well in rural areas where horizontal housing is more feasible. 

"What we are presenting to national government is that definitely for cities and for those who have problem with land availability high rise is the way to go..for the rural areas there are alternative ways of building such as the bamboo cement frame," she said.

COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS 

Hilti Foundation and Base Bahay Foundation, Inc. 

Base Bahay collaborates with various partners, including public and private foundations, corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), contractors, and builders share expertise in cement bamboo frame technology. 

Base Bahay's projects span various locations in the Philippines such as Tacloban, where it provided homes for Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) victims; Basey, Samar; Tondo, Manila; Davao del Norte; Quezon City; and many others. 

In the past, the NGO also partnered with the local government of Sorsogon to build 50 houses, offering housing to informal settlers residing along the coast and vulnerable disaster-prone regions. 

Additionally, they sourced bamboo from Sorsogon itself to bolster local livelihoods and promote sustainable utilization of the province's natural resource. 

They also engage in research, testing, and training in collaboration with institutions and professionals focused on alternative building technologies. 

A significant challenge that Base Bahay faces is changing the perception of bamboo as a material for the poor. 

"Kailangan naming i-educate o palitan yung paniniwala na ang kawayan eh material ng mahirap…If it's used to its fullest potential malakas ang kawayan as a material. Kaya a lot of our resources are also focused on research and innovation," Jalandoni said. 

(We need to educate and change the perception that bamboo is a material for the poor. If it's used to its fullest potential, bamboo is a very strong material. That’s why a lot of our resources are focused on research and innovation.)