CEMEX helps build sustainable, greener communities in the countryside

True to its commitment to Build the Nation Together, CEMEX Philippines Foundation, Inc.  supported the development of a new, sustainable community through its partnership with BASE Bahay Foundation and 4P For People.

The partnership of CEMEX Philippines Foundation, Inc. and Base Bahay paves the way for the construction of the Rejoice Children’s Village located in Nasugbu, Batangas, a site chosen by 4P For People to build new homes for around 48 orphaned children and 30 vulnerable families, giving them a new beginning at life.

“We do not just build with cement and concrete, but with hope and new beginnings. We are committed to building a better, more sustainable future for every Filipino family, and this partnership that helps build homes for the future generation of the country is a great way to do it,” said Ignacio Mijares, CEO and President of CEMEX Philippines.

Rejoice Children’s Village will be an eco-friendly, self-sufficient housing community, which will also include an activity and learning center, and a nursery. This project aims to empower orphaned, abandoned children and vulnerable poor families, to give them a new outlook on life, to facilitate their overall development, and to give them new opportunities for livelihood.

“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 and skills improvement,” said Erlinda Lizardo, Executive Director of CEMEX Philippines Foundation.

Building a sustainable, greener community is at the core of CEMEX’s vision and the Rejoice Children’s Village project embodies this goal. The Children’s Village is being built using innovative Cement-Bamboo Frame Technology (CBFT) as its main foundation. The technology, developed by BASE Bahay, will use local bamboo as a framework for the homes, officially tested by Accreditation for Innovative Technologies for Housing or AITECH to be able to withstand natural calamities such as earthquakes, typhoons, fire, and insect infestation.

BASE Bahay provides alternative building technologies to help in creating quality socialized homes using locally grown, renewable materials.

Meanwhile, 4P For People is a non-profit organization engaging in extensive works in Manila’s informal settlements, focusing on providing less-fortunate children with better opportunities to combat poverty, and emphasizing prevention and long-term help. Some of their welfare programs include educational support, parental guidance, courses on pregnant women, and medical help.

The bridging of the two organizations with CEMEX further fuels the company’s commitment to building a better and more sustainable future for the Filipino community.

Build the Nation Together is the umbrella Corporate Social Responsibility program of CEMEX Philippines Foundation,focusing on various advocacies dedicated to empowering communities and uplifting lives through sustainable programs such as education, livelihood, environment, health, and partnerships.

CEMEX has a rich history of improving the welfare of those it serves through innovative building solutions, efficiency advancements, and efforts to promote a sustainable future in more than 50 countries worldwide. In the Philippines, CEMEX subsidiaries Apo Cement Corporation in Cebu and Solid Cement Corporation in Rizal produce and market a broad product mix of building solutions. These cement manufacturing plants carry the well-established cement brands Apo and Rizal. More information is available at www.cemexholdingsphilippines.com.