From the government to the academe to the private sector, bamboo brought together the housing community in 2022 through initiatives spearheaded by the non-profit Base Bahay Foundation (Base).

Partnerships to build bamboo homes for Filipino communities

Committed to a vision of “Building sustainable foundations for the future”, Base works with its network of partners to build homes for various beneficiaries all over the country using Base’s Cement-Bamboo Frame Technology (CBFT).

Base’s CBFT is certified by the Accreditation of Innovative Technologies for Housing (AITECH) and the National Housing Authority, making each Base home comfortable, affordable, disaster-resilient, and ecologically friendly.    

In 2022, 188 new houses were added to Base’s growing portfolio of over 1,200 disaster-resilient residences built across the Philippines, sheltering around 5,000 individuals in 14 communities.  Best of all, each “build” brings livelihood to its host community. This also includes the Negros Occidental Impact 2025 (NOI2025) project with Habitat for Humanity, which aims to build 10,000 cement-bamboo frame homes in response to the growing need for socialized homes in disaster-prone areas, particularly in Visayas.

As part of its initiative to scale up its projects globally, Base also has international collaboration in Nepal to build more disaster-resilient communities using its technology.

Last year the organization also moved beyond housing to co-develop the Kanya Kawayan Weaving Center in Nasugbu, Batangas, in partnership with Holcim Philippines, Inc. and Kanya Kawayan, a like-minded social enterprise that aims to elevate the use of bamboo. The 148-sq m Weaving Center will house the organization’s production of artisanal creations, which help generate employment and alternative livelihood opportunities for Batangueños.

With the aim to empower communities with further economic opportunities, Base also works with Ayala Foundation, Inc., and other organizations on the Planting for Productivity (P4P) project that teaches the community about organic urban farming.

“As leaders in the field of sustainable housing technologies, we recognize that we play a pivotal role in ensuring that every Filipino has access to a home,” said Base Bahay General Manager Dr. Pablo Jorillo, referencing the country’s housing backlog as he points out bamboo’s abundance. “We are excited to share that Base has signed a memorandum of agreement with five other organizations for the construction of bamboo structures and the implementation of other programs in their respective communities.  We hope to unlock more partnerships that will help us provide homes for more Filipino families.”

Working to bring bamboo into mainstream construction

Shares Base Bahay Head of Technology Luis Felipe Lopez Munoz: “a key part of our commitment to promoting sustainable housing technologies is constant innovation. Our vision is to be the global reference for bamboo and sustainable construction in order to help countries find alternative construction methods.”

At the Base Innovation Center (BIC) in Makati, the country’s first research and testing facility for sustainable and disaster-resilient construction technologies, Base is leading the charge on research and innovation surrounding the use of bamboo for the affordable housing sector.

Passionate about advocating the use of bamboo in mainstream construction, Base works with the Association of Structural Engineers of the Philippines (ASEP) to advocate the creation of our own National Structural Code for Bamboo.   

As part of its research and development initiatives in 2022, Base Bahay formed two new key partnerships with local universities Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) and the Technological University of the Philippines (TUP). BIC also partnered with the Department of Trade and Industry – Philippine Textile Research Institute (DOST-PTRI) for further research opportunities and to bring its innovative products to Base communities.

Today, BIC works with 14 local and international university partners, allowing them to engage in special projects, such as the use of an augmented reality application in panel fabrication with incon and ETH Zurich, and Panel Fabrication Table with Hilti P4.

“Since its launch in 2021, BIC has gained more attention from different local government units, institutions, and organizations globally with more people visiting the facility and engaging in partnerships with Base,” adds Luis Lopez.  “So far, BIC has conducted 14 research works and completed 5 publications in collaboration with different local and international institutions.”

Adds Jorillo: “These research partnerships are essential to BIC and Base, as we continue to push for sustainable construction, particularly CBFT, to be the building technology of choice in the industry.  CBFT homes are disaster-resilient, environment-friendly, and sustainable –important elements for permanent housing here in the Philippines where we face multiple typhoons every year.”

Within its own organization, Base invested in organizational development, and is standardizing its processes through the deeper involvement of its own employees in drafting plans and strategies.

“We have likewise started to undergo a series of training courses on Quality Management, so we can successfully adopt the system and get certified for ISO 9001,” Jorillo says.

Teaching a new generation of bamboo builders

On top of its focus on research and development, Base Bahay continues to equip the housing and construction industry by offering Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Programs to architects, engineers and other construction professionals; and skills training to workers.  Last year, online and in-person programs on Bamboo Standards and CBFT saw over 800 participants composed of professional builders and bamboo enthusiasts.

One of the highlights of Bamboo Month last September was the Bamboost, a forum on bamboo architecture and design developed by Base to upscale green construction.  Leading the line-up of local and international experts speaking at the forum was Jörg Stamm, a Colombia-based bamboo construction specialist and trainer, widely known for his design and construction of engineered bamboo structures in different countries.  Stamm was joined by Base Head of Technology Luis Felipe Lopez and three heavyweights in the field of bamboo architecture: architect and urban designer Munir Vahanvati, Filipino-American architect  and Kawayan Collective co-founder Ray Villanueva,  and multi-awarded Filipino architect Christian Salandanan who is widely known for his work with bamboo.

“This year, we are looking forward to establishing even more programs and other initiatives that will continue to put bamboo and CBFT front and center in the Philippines’ housing and construction industry,” says Maricen Jalandoni, Base Bahay president. “We believe this kind of technology is what we need to fulfill Filipinos’ need for more affordable yet high-quality and sustainable homes.”

January 27, 2021, Makati, Philippines—In line with their goals of promoting sustainable housing technologies, Base Bahay, the pioneering foundation that provides alternative building technologies for socialized housing, has launched the Base Innovation Center (BIC) last January 27.

Located in the Foundation’s Makati office, the BIC is the first research and testing facility for sustainable and disaster-resilient construction technologies in the country. It houses a Universal Testing Machine, a Bamboo Wall Panel Reaction Frame, fabrication tables, and a model house, wherein new materials and building techniques are tested.

Base Bahay Head of Technology Luis Felipe Lopez Munoz shared, “A key part of our commitment to promoting sustainable housing technologies is constant innovation.”

He added, “With the launch of this innovation center, we aim to further our research on bamboo construction technology, that we may continue to provide Filipinos with more affordable and resistant solutions to housing.”

Together with their partners, Habitat for Humanity Philippines and the Hilti Foundation, they are hoping to further optimize bamboo construction technology and promote its widespread use in the country.

With the launch of the BIC, they are targeting to build 10,000 cement bamboo houses by 2024, in response to the growing need for socialized homes in various disaster-prone areas within the Luzon and Visayas regions.

As of 2020, Base has built over 800 houses, 10 communities, 5 supply facilities, and housed over 4,000 individuals across the Luzon and Visayas areas. They’ve also trained over 100 TESDA-certified workers on masonry, carpentry, and in the application of cement bamboo technology in the
country.

Currently, Base has ongoing research projects with the De La Salle University which focus on the determining the strength and mechanical properties of various bamboo species.

Base Bahay General Manager Dr. Pablo Jorillo said that these studies are being conducted to guide the development of a local structural code for bamboo, aligned with the Philippine National Standard (PNS) 22157 and the proposed International Organization for Standardization’s ISO 22156. The former determines the specific testing procedures for obtained bamboo culms, while the latter is meant to institutionalize the use of bamboo in structural design.

Dr. Jorillo shared, “As leaders in the field of sustainable housing technologies, we recognize that we play a pivotal role in ensuring that every Filipino has access to a home.”

He added, “Through the Base Innovation Center, we are looking to open more doors with our partners, that we may continue to provide Filipino families strong cement bamboo structures for their homes, intensive research that will encourage innovation, and comprehensive technology training.”

To know more about Base Bahay Foundation and their projects, you may visit http://www.base-builds.com/.

For the residents of the Don Jose M. Beringuer Sr. Bamboo Village in Sorsogon City, Sorsogon, “resilience” is not just a trendy rhetoric, it’s a yearly necessity.

Part of the Bicol region and directly facing the Pacific Ocean, Sorsogon is among one of the most-often hit areas in the Philippines for typhoons. It is regularly visited by at least 2-3 direct hits from typhoons every year; This year alone, the Bicol region was hit one after the other by Typhoons Quinta and Rolly, which sustained maximum winds of 130 kph and 315 kph respectively.

Millions in damages are sustained per year, and as always, it is those living in less than adequate housing and temporary shelters who remain the most vulnerable to these hazards.

Though an outpouring of donations and relief operations greatly help the region after every destructive typhoon, it becomes more and more obvious that there is an urgent need to re-evaluate the way we see resilience. Filipino resilience must be redefined to not just be the ability to cheerfully pick up the pieces after every damaging typhoon, but more than anything, must mean learning from and being prepared for the next. Typhoons are naturally-occurring, but disasters are preventable – loss of lives and property can be avoided through providing safe, disaster-resilient, and adequate housing to those most at risk.

Since its construction in 2017, the Don Jose M. Beringuer Sr. Bamboo Village in Sorsogon has withstood three major typhoons – Typhoon Tisoy in 2018, which sustained maximum wind speeds of 215 kph, and Typhoons Quinta and Rolly this year. Beneficiaries have reported that the CBFT houses sustained no damage, with the community kept safe during the onslaught of the typhoons.

“Yung Bagyong Tisoy talaga sobrang lakas ng hangin. Pero safe na safe kami dito, walang nasira sa amin.” [“The winds of Typhoon Tisoy were really strong. But we were safe here, there was no damage at all.”]

Now more than ever, we must recognize that resilience is not just about getting back up after every disaster; resilience is actively preparing for and ensuring that future disasters are prevented.

Here at Base Bahay, we believe that sustainable development is not a one-man job; true change can only be achieved through an intersectional collaboration of partners that work together for holistic development.

This month, we sat with Ms. Erlinda Lizardo, Corporate Communications Manager of Cemex Foundation Philippines. As the arm of Cemex Philippines in charge of corporate social responsibility programs, Ms. Lizardo heads the Foundation’s many development programs that operate nationwide.

“The vision of the Foundation is really to help uplift the lives of the Filipino people. Our projects are geared towards helping the Filipinos improve their quality of life, whether it’s in housing, environment, education, or training, skills-improvement.”

Currently, the Foundation is focusing on three main advocacies: Build Education, Build Environment, and Build Sustainability. “These are areas we can share knowledge, in terms of the partnerships that we build, with the communities and other organizations,” Ms. Lizardo says, with regard to their Build programs; “These are things that we are really able to develop technology-wise, and where our expertise lies.”

This is seen particularly in their global programs such as the acclaimed Patrimonio Hoy program spearheaded by Cemex Foundation Mexico. The program utilizes a business model that engages with the base of the pyramid, giving low-income families access to building materials, and enabling them to build their own homes. To date, the program has helped elevate the lives of more than 450,000 families in Mexico. Though the Philippine office has yet to adopt this program, this is something that they hope to implement as well in the country.

Cemex Foundation Philippines has had partnerships and projects with different organizations for housing projects, including Gawad Kalinga and Habitat for Humanity in Cebu, as well as with Base Bahay Foundation. This year, Cemex Foundation Philippines has donated bags of cement to 4P for People and Base Bahay Foundation for the construction of the Rejoice Children’s Village project in Batangas.

Looking forward, Cemex Foundation Philippines has a lot more planned for their projects, including establishing more partnerships as well as launching educational programs for public school students, engineers, and architects. Ultimately, the Foundation aims to expand their reach to more local communities in need.

“In the coming years we hope to be able to scale up, to help countless Filipinos, help their lives improve. We’re building a better future for Filipinos.”

This year has seen many changes in Base Bahay as it pivots, focusing on research, innovation, and training. In April, Maricen Jalandoni, formerly the general manager of Base Bahay, moved up as President of Base Bahay and Chairman of the Board of Trustees. While still actively working on programs related to Housing in Base Bahay Foundation, Maricen now also acts as a liaison for the HILTI Foundation projects in Asia as part of the HILTI Foundation’s aim of bringing more of its projects to the region, through Base.

Founded in 1996 in Schaan, Liechtenstein, the HILTI Foundation is committed to the principle of “building a better future” by focusing on three advocacies: Affordable Housing and Technology, Music for Social Change, and Economic Empowerment. In the Philippines, it initiated Affordable Housing and Technology programs through Base Bahay, and is now gearing up to engaging in its other program areas in the Asian region (starting with the Philippines), also through Base Bahay.

Maricen, having been active on the ground with Base Bahay communities, knows that affordable housing is only the beginning and that true sustainable development is a longer road ahead.

“Economic empowerment is our next step to supporting the communities where we have built houses. We’ve helped cover their housing needs, now we would like to help in their need for sustainable livelihood programs,” she says, when asked about the HILTI Foundation’s plans to create thriving communities.

“By supporting economic empowerment activities, we can act as catalysts to bringing them to more financial stability and eventually, to financial independence. They can start to earn and work on their own because now they will have the ability.”

The Music for Social Change program, on the other hand, seeks to empower children and youth through music. Music can be a powerful instrument to effect social change. “Through an extensive music program, the children discover their talents as well as learn discipline, teamwork and improve their social skills. And as they grow with their music, they in turn inspire their families by sharing the values they’ve learned in the program.”

Though the HILTI Foundation hopes to begin introducing these projects to communities built with Base Bahay, this will not stop them from working in other areas as well.

HILTI Foundation believes that all of this is achievable through working with an extensive network of partners with different sets of expertise. Maricen points this out as she emphasizes the need for strong collaborations through a coalition of partners, not just with organizations but also with the communities themselves, that work together to build a holistic program.

“It’s about collaboration and partnership. It is not one institution. It is a combination of institutions. It is a combination of expertise that makes a project work. It involves public and private institutions and the people themselves.”

The scale of projects which both the Hilti Foundation and Base Bahay Foundation plan to take in the next few years seems daunting but they remain unfazed. As they continue to stress, sustainable development is achievable through an intersectional collaboration of partners, all working towards the same goal. And with everyone’s continued support, it becomes possible for us to help our fellow Filipinos build better futures of their own.

“Our vision is really to work towards scaling up: beneficiaries, partnerships, and expansion of research and knowledge base on these sustainable materials.”
– Dr. Pablo Jorillo

This April 2020, Base Bahay saw some internal changes and welcomed Pablo Jorillo as its new General Manager. Doc PJ, as his colleagues call him, spent 15 years as general manager of HILTI Philippines before moving to Base. Seeing an opportunity open in Base Bahay, Doc PJ decided that it was time to try his hand working in the development sector.

At the same time, his predecessor Maricen Jalandoni has moved up to a new role as Hilti Foundation Liaison to Asia, developing projects and partnerships for the Hilti Foundation in the region while she continues to serve as President of Base Bahay Foundation and Chairman of the Board of Trustees.

Four months into his transition from Corporate to Development, Doc PJ cites the Covid-19 quarantine’s limitations as the first obstacle he has to hurdle. Despite this, work at Base continues to push forward at a faster pace following the move; when asked about the vision he has for Base moving forward, Doc PJ readily discusses the growth not just of the Foundation, but of the bamboo construction industry as a whole.

“It’s an exciting time for bamboo construction. Our vision is really to work towards scaling up: beneficiaries, partnerships, and even expansion of research and knowledge. We are looking to scale up not just in the number of houses or the number of beneficiaries, but of expanding social impact, environmental impact, and, of course, research, innovation and technology application of bamboo as a structural material.”

Base aims to achieve two main things: First, to be known as the leader in bamboo construction technology and second, to be a champion of sustainable construction. These objectives can be achieved by creating and enabling a greater network of partners, not just in the social development sector but also in the professional construction and the academe. Ultimately, working with all three would greatly help promote the widespread use of structural bamboo.

Additionally, scaling up is not limited only to the Philippines; Base together with Hilti Foundation envision bringing the technology to other countries and partnering and collaborating with experts from around the world on further research and innovations. Currently, Base has an ongoing project with Habitat for Humanity Nepal in Jhapa and is partnering with research institutions from the UK, Malaysia, Austria and Liechtenstein. Further on, Base aims to pursue more research with research partners from Japan and Switzerland, among others, and bring the technology to fellow developing countries like Cambodia, Indonesia, and India.

As with every project, success can only be achieved through everyone coming together as a team. “We will rally everyone to achieve this noble vision,” Doc PJ points out, “Engineers, Marketing, Admin, Supply chain, and everyone will work as one towards this vision.”