Triple Bottomline Analysis of a Socialized Housing Program: The Case of the Bagong Silangan Bamboo Village

Date

12-2019

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness Management

College

College of Economics and Management (CEM)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Melodee Marciana E. De Castro

Abstract

The global concern on environmental destruction invites attention to organizations to subscribe to triple definition of sustainability namely economic, social and environmental. Bamboo is one of newest identified agricultural solutions to challenges of vanishing flora resulting from deforestation. Identified as a practical substitute to cutting trees, bamboo has also proven more environmental benefits such its ability of carbon sequestration, being excellent source of biomass compared to regular tree species and serving as highly durable architectural material.

Base Bahay Inc., HILTI Foundation and Vincentian Foundation, organizations that showcased sustainable socialized housing in Bagong Silangan, exert effort to tackle the issues of urban housing and help it become more inclusive, sustainable and scalable. Sustainable socialized housing is made up of bamboo panels as an alternative construction material and recommended for construction of low-cost housing. In providing the houses, they offered and utilized the Cement-Bamboo Frame Technology which is a pre-fabricated frame system using load bearing bamboo with metal connections and mortar cement plaster. This system is tested for resistance to earthquake, typhoon, fire and insect infestation (Fair Building Network, n.d)

The general objective of the research was to assess the sustainability in the case of Vincentian Foundation’s Bamboo Village Project in Bagong Silangan, Quezon City, with Base Bahay and HILTI Foundation as the partners, as guided by the Triple Bottom Line approach. Furthermore, the research intended to: (1) describe the profile and background of the stakeholders’ in the program; (2) discuss the impact of the program using the Triple Bottom Line Analysis to assess the sustainability in the economic, social and environmental line; (3) analyze the replication impact of the program with respect to organization and collaboration among major stakeholders; and (4) recommend strategies to uplift the sustainability performance of the Bagong Silangan Housing Program as well as future related replications.

Summarizing the role of each major organization who helped the program in Bagong Silangan to be successful, it was observed that these organizations had an evident part in the whole process and shared the same goal, that is, to provide a socialized housing program. Comparing the Mission, Vision and Principles of the three major partners of the program, they have same mission, that is to seek solution for the problems of the society and look for opportunities in seeking a sustainable program.

The economic line Sustainability of the Socialized Housing Program based the Partial Budgeting Analysis and Housing Index of the Philippines resulted to a difference of 20- 40% cheaper in utilizing bamboo in constructing low-cost housing as compared to the conventional materials. Significant economic savings result from the use of bamboo to replace conventional housing materials.

The social line of sustainability was assessed according to the impact to the community and beneficiaries in Bagong Silangan. The beneficiaries highly recommended bamboo as an alternative construction material as part of the socialized housing development in the Philippines. As an evident proof of the sustainability of the project, it created a direct positive impact to the community and indirect positive impact to health & safety, recognition and equal opportunity for the vulnerable and marginalized sector of the community.

Bamboo was assessed to make a more positive environmental impact due to carbon sequestration which reduces carbon in the atmosphere as compared to conventional materials such as steel and concrete which emit carbon in the atmosphere that add up to the greenhouse gases. There was a reduction of 150% environmental impact, using functional unit of kgCO2Eq/m2 as an environmental impact, in utilizing bamboo pole than steel and concrete. Negative carbon footprint in calculating CO2 balance of bamboo pole were observed which has a positive impact to the environment. Utilizing the bamboo in the construction industry created an edge for this alternative construction material to have minimal negative effect to the environment.

The replication impact analysis identified the strengths and challenges of the program, as well the assessment of the Sustainable Development Goals. It was observed that the Socialized Housing Program in Bagong Silangan Village addressed 12 out of the 19 SDGs 2030 with direct and indirect positive impact. This solution in housing created opportunities both for the bamboo industry as well as the marginalized sector of the community. For the bamboo industry, it created a competitive advantage in utilizing it as an economical and durable construction material and for the marginalized sector, it provided alternative safe-space housing.

Among the challenges were, HILTI Foundation and Base Bahay Foundation lacked on empowering a specific sector of the community where the program needed it the most. Thus, Vincentian Foundation was made to provide and choose the sector most in need of the help. It was also observed that the two organizations, HILTI Foundation and Vincentian Foundation, had limited knowledge about the technology introduced by the Base Bahay and focused only on the implementation and utilization process of the program.

Strategies are recommended to sustain and overcome challenges in economic, social and environmental line of socialized housing program. For Base Bahay, the organization may acquire a new motto and training department in order to maximize the mission and vision’s efficiency. The better process is to add/replace the construction by supervision.

For HILTI Foundation, it would be a great plan to continuously support the bamboo industry as a construction material while searching for other alternatives to provide low cost-housing and sustainable socialized housing. Their advocacy would be enticing for other multi-national companies to invest in and create an impact to economy, society and the planet.

For Vincentian Foundation, utilizing the 50 houses in Bagong Silangan should be the first thing the organization to accomplish. The presence of this kind of program in Metro Manila creates more positive chances for the organization and the beneficiaries. Thus, the maintenance of the community and the openness to development should be considered.

For the suppliers of the bamboo, it is best for the farmers and laborers who would harvest and treats the bamboo to put up a cooperative for the betterment of trading and market opportunities in bamboo industry. The beneficiaries, in partnership with Vincentian Foundation, need to help each other in promoting livelihood programs and the openness to development and partnerships should be supported.

Five of the SDGs 2030 were not strongly incorporated and directly relevant to the impact of the program. These are Zero Hunger, Quality Education, Gender Equality, Life Below Water, and Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions. Recommended for the stakeholders to continuously support the Bamboo Village and address other 5 Sustainable Development Goals. The alignment of other Sustainable Development Goals of 2030 which is not relevant to the impact of the Bagong Silangan Bamboo Village could be done by providing livelihood and seminar programs to the beneficiaries.

Language

English

LC Subject

Housing rehabilitation

Location

UPLB College of Economics and Management (CEM)

Call Number

LG 993 2019 M17 C37

Notes

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Document Type

Thesis

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