Alternative building solutions provider Base Bahay Foundation Inc. and humanitarian organization 4P for People have teamed up to create Rejoice Village, a sustainable community for vulnerable Filipinos in Nasugbu, Batangas, that consists of children’s homes and affordable housing made from bamboo, the main construction material which Base Bahay is advocating.
Base Bahay Foundation general manager Pablo Jorillo said the initiative aims to both show the possibilities of using bamboo for different kinds of structures, and to help the community build a healthy and resilient life for themselves.
Rejoice Village’s first beneficiaries will be from Happyland, one of Manila’s most densely populated slum areas.
The first phase of the green village is the “children’s village” or the orphanage, which will be built using Base Bahay’s cement bamboo frame technology.
All of the bamboo being sourced for the village are sourced and treated in Nasugbu through Base Bahay’s supply partner, ensuring a sustainable value chain for the material in the area. Local labor will also be utilized and reducing energy consumption will be a priority during design and construction.
Bamboo-based infrastructure for Rejoice Village are in the pipeline such as schools, clinics and community centers
An added advantage for the earthquake-prone town of Nasugbu is that Base Bahay’s cement bamboo frame’s light structure makes it more resilient against tremors. It is also typhoon-resistant.
“The construction industry is one of the biggest contributors to climate change, and to create an impact, sustainability issues must be addressed,” Jorillo said.
