property
Bamboo Cement Homes: How BASE Is Building Typhoon-Ready Communities in the Philippines
Tuesday, August 12, 2025
Safe Shelter in a Land of Typhoons
In a country where an average of 20 typhoons barrel through every year, a “home” is more than just four walls and a roof. For many Filipinos, it’s a lifeline—a place that must withstand nature’s strongest blows. In Iloilo City, that lifeline has been made stronger with the help of Base Bahay Foundation’s Cement-Bamboo Frame Technology (CBFT)—a building innovation that combines affordability, sustainability, and unmatched resilience.
Since 2015, the Balay Kawayan Housing Community in San Isidro, Jaro has stood as living proof of this technology’s power. Built in partnership with the Homeless People’s Federation Philippines, Hilti Foundation, and the Iloilo City Government, these bamboo-and-cement homes have kept 47 families safe through countless storms.
Building Stronger Futures, One Home at a Time
Across the country, BASE has already built over 2,000 CBFT homes, giving more than 10,000 Filipinos not just shelter—but peace of mind.
For community worker Helen Villarin, her CBFT home has been a source of comfort during the most uncertain times.
“We’ve lived here since 2019 and I feel safe, especially during storms,” Helen shares. “Our house doesn’t shake no matter how strong the winds are.”
Another resident, Richard Gerafusco, who lost his home to a fire, found both security and beauty in his new bamboo home:
“It’s beautiful and very safe—a true home.”
Why Bamboo-Cement Homes Make Sense for the Philippines
The Philippines ranked #1 in the World Risk Index 2022—a reminder of how vulnerable our country is to climate change and natural disasters. With 60% of homes informally built, low-income families often have to rebuild after every disaster.
BASE’s CBFT offers a game-changing solution:
- Made from bamboo, a renewable local resource
- Built to code, meeting maximum windspeed and earthquake magnitude standards under the National Structural Code of the Philippines
- Fast to construct—homes can be completed in as little as six weeks
- Affordable and sustainable for both public and private housing projects
As BASE General Manager Engr. Luis Felipe Lopez explains, “With CBFT, we are redefining resiliency. It’s about building smarter and for the future.”
More Than Homes: Strengthening Livelihoods
Beyond construction, BASE is investing in livelihood programs for farmers, builders, and craftsmen. With nine bamboo supply and treatment facilities and the Bamboo Academy Program, they’re training the next generation of architects, engineers, and skilled workers.
On a larger scale, BASE is working with the Association of Structural Engineers of the Philippines (ASEP) to integrate bamboo into the country’s official building code—a move that could change how sustainable housing is built nationwide.
A Global Impact with Filipino Roots
Founded in 2014 by the Hilti Foundation, BASE has already helped save 35,000 tons of CO₂. The organization’s efforts also extend beyond the Philippines, helping other countries develop their own bamboo construction guidelines.
As BASE celebrates its 11th year, the mission is clear: resilience isn’t just surviving the storm—it’s building a future where communities stand stronger, together.
If more communities embrace technologies like CBFT, we can create homes that are safe, sustainable, and proudly Filipino—turning every typhoon season into a test we’re prepared to pass.
