The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
Holcim Philippines, a leading building solutions provider, has partnered with Build Change Philippines, an organization focused on building disaster-resilient homes in developing nations, to strengthen local structures against natural calamities.
Holcim Philippines Senior Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer Zoe Sibala and Build Change Philippines Country Director Arnel Capili sealed the partnership last May 11 to work on disaster-resilient housing projects and advocated this approach among stakeholders. The parties agreed to work together to initially support the areas damaged by super Typhoon Odette last December 2021.
They are collaborating on possible projects to build or retrofit houses, schools, and evacuation centers for disaster resilience and capacity-building through training and advocacy of policies or financing strategies.
They are also committed to develop a scalable affordable housing program in collaboration with other stakeholders such as microfinance institutions to increase access to affordable, disaster-resilient homes particularly for the vulnerable segments of the community.
Capili highlighted the importance of making structures more resilient in the Philippines given its vulnerability to natural disasters such as earthquakes and storms. He added that climate change further heightens these threats.
“The advocacy of Build Change is to build resilient houses and provide Filipinos a safe space when these disasters come. This partnership will be as solid as Holcim cement, durable as Build Change house, and as lasting as the friendship and camaraderie that will forge with Holcim Philippines,” he said.
Sibala highlighted the relevance of the partnership to the company’s commitment to build inclusive progress in the country. She said, “Owning a home remains an elusive cream for many Filipino. Build Change has been paving the way for increased access to affordable, decent, and resilient homes in the country so we are happy to complement this effort. This partnership also demonstrates that we can deliver business value while addressing social issues and key to this is a credible partner with strong track record. Through our innovative and sustainable building solutions, and with the right products for the right applications we look to help Build Change in its mission of building more resilient homes and realize our vision of building greener, smarter and for all”.
Meanwhile, Holcim Philippines Vice President and Head of Communications and Corporate Social Responsibility Cara Ramirez said the partnership strengthens the company’s support for communities to be more disaster resilient having done such projects for survivors of Typhoon Pablo in Compostela Valley and neighbors of its Davao Plant living in flood prone areas.
Build Change has worked in the Philippines since Typhoon Yolanda in 2013. It supported post-disaster reconstruction and worked to prevent housing loss against future disasters. Among its accomplishments are the construction of over 2,000 safer buildings for 40,000 people, training of over 4,700 individuals in safe construction practices, creation of 560 jobs, and expansion of its network of partners in local government and the business sector.