The Philippines is one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world. The country experiences an average of twenty typhoons yearly, damaging a lot of infrastructures and houses and is home to many makeshift houses in slum areas. There is a dire need to construct disaster-resilient homes and we think it is imperative for us to give priority to these solutions when we want to be building better homes
Giving people calamity-proof homes is a great head start in lessening the damage and struggles of poverty-stricken households from the devastation brought about by these natural disasters. But how do we make disaster-proof homes? This blog will list some materials that can be used to make disaster-resilient homes.
Four-Sided Slope Roof
This is the perfect type of roofing, especially during typhoons. It has an elongated pyramid-type structure with a rectangular base that can decrease wind pressure and destruction. Eaves or canopies should be avoided as it makes the roof more susceptible to strong winds, making the house more vulnerable to typhoons.
Storm Shutters/Installation
Windows should be resilient to heavy winds caused by heavy rains to keep the property safe as well as people living in it. Your doors and windows are vulnerable to wind, debris, and precipitation during monsoon season and storm shutters are the first line of defense for these vulnerable areas as they are built from strong materials that need to withstand high winds and the impact of flying objects like steel, aluminum and clear, impact-resistant plastic.
Earth bags
Earthquakes are also a major concern in our country. To better equip your homes, load-bearing design is the best way to ensure your house's stability. A load-bearing is designed to be adaptable to sudden movements in the ground. One cost-efficient way of doing this is through ‘earth bags’. These are basically old rice sacks filled with gravel, sand, or soil. The bags have a natural dumping effect that minimizes the earthquake’s impact. However, the materials’ effectiveness still boils down to their utilization and installation.
Elevating Homes
Elevating houses or enhancing them with stilts is one of the most common ways of avoiding heavy floods, but this is still not the most brilliant option because of how risky it would be in case of strong earthquakes. It only becomes earthquake-proof if additional braces are built. Finding the perfect location to build a house is still the ultimate solution to avoiding heavy damage caused by natural disasters. However, the problem is that local governments and developers usually ignore the Philippine geohazard maps when conducting development projects.
Is It Affordable?
All of the mentioned are very effective and durable, but it is not so practical cost-wise. It still cannot be denied that disaster-proofing each house in the Philippines can be very expensive, especially for those with limited resources. These modifications can be very costly, and government housing loans can only be availed once. We cannot deny the fact that it would take years for the country to undo all of the poor construction practices that have been present ever since.
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However, natural disaster resiliency is still possible with proper research and planning. At JCVA, we provide clear and concise consultancy and advisory to support the best decision making throughout the project process ensuring that our client’s goals are met and their investment protected. Check out our website at jcvassociates.ph to learn more about our service offerings, or get in touch by emailing us at info@jcvasssociates.ph.
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