A home is more than just a physical structure. It is where memories are made, and identity takes root.  With typhoons battering our country year after year, a house clearly becomes far more than a roof over one's head. It should be a place where families feel safe, secure and protected from harm.  And just as importantly, it must be resilient.

For many families with limited income, home often feels anything but safe or dependable.  These houses are frequently located in high-risk areas, vulnerable to flooding and other natural calamities, which makes them especially prone to damage and destruction.  As a result, families find themselves trapped in a painful cycle of loss and rebuilding, forced to start over again and again.

The Base Bahay Foundation (BASE) is working to break that cycle through its Cement-Bamboo Frame Technology (CBFT), a building solution that combines bamboo with mortar-cement plaster. This solution is designed to build homes that are not only environmentally friendly but also strong enough to withstand strong winds and earthquakes.

CBFT draws inspiration from Bahareque Encementado, a traditional way of building houses that uses natural materials like bamboo and wood, reinforced with cement. Originally practiced in places like South America, this technique has since been modernized and improved through European engineering and adapted to suit the climate and conditions of the Philippines.  Today, it is being used to build homes that are safe, affordable, durable and sustainable.  Remarkably, this technology can complete a house in as little as 6 weeks. 

Bamboo, a locally sourced and renewable material, is combined with cement to form strong frames for housing. This building system meets national standards for alternative housing and has been officially approved by the National Housing Authority.  

Since its founding, BASE has built over 2,000 safe and sustainable homes, benefiting thousands of individuals across vulnerable communities. These homes have become symbols of strength and resilience in communities that have been accustomed to loss and uncertainty.

Helen Villarin and Richard Gerafusco are two beneficiaries of BASE's housing projects. Helen, who has been living in her CBFT home since 2019, no longer worries about her house when storms roll in. Richard, who lost his previous home to a fire, now feels safe and secure. For both families, their bamboo homes offer more than just shelter. They bring pride, peace of mind and a sense of stability. Helen and Richard are just two of many families whose lives have been transformed by BASE's CBFT.

Started by the Hilti Foundation, a provider of alternative building technologies, Base Bahay Foundation uses smart construction methods and locally sourced, renewable materials to build strong, safe and eco-friendly homes. These houses are designed to be affordable, comfortable and resilient, able to withstand disasters while being kind to the environment.