RDC wants disaster resilient

tech in CV houses, buildings

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol (PIA)—In the disaster prone region of the Central Visayas, the Regional Development Council (RDC) endorses the use of low cost but tested technology to strengthen foundation-less houses and withstand calamities.

The technology, called the Column Footing Grade Beam Monolith (CFGBM) is an isolated reinforced concrete footing positioned at each corner of the house, with a plinth beam connecting the sides for added stability.

A technology resulting from a Habitat for Humanity International (HHI) commissioned study to come up with a non-invasive structural intervention for built houses, CFGBM can withstand a 6.5 magnitude earthquake and 200 kph winds.

It is easy to install and can be added to an already standing structure, is compatible with concrete hollow block construction, cost effective, and uses readily available local materials, according to Argeo Melissimo, of the Development Administration Committee of the RDC.

CFGBM is simply a specific type of construction foundation system that connects isolated reinforced concrete footings at each column with a continuous plinth beam on a one-pour concept, creating a monolithic structure.

This design enhances stability and load distribution, making it suitable for structures needing to withstand seismic activity and strong winds, claims the RDC DAC.

This technology helps distribute the load borne like walls and when it is distributed in the plinth beam, it also stabilizes the floors and the general surface solving problems like wall shear, according to Engr. Christopher Manug.

With this ingenious technology that can be adapted for construction in the region, the RDC led by Bohol governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado saw that if houses and structures in Central Visayas use the technology, the region could have more disaster resilient communities.

Now, the RDC thinks that if national government agencies, local government units, non-government organizations, environment professionals, architects and civil engineers use the technology as an appropriate solution, low-income households which are finding ways to strengthen their houses and can build this easy-to-install and cost-effective foundation retrofits, that can safeguard the region’s residents from earthquakes and storms.

For this, the Aumentado-led council recommended to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), including its attached agencies, to consider adopting the technology in their housing guidelines and programs, activities and projects, and consider offering financing options for its implementation.

Aumentado, who is also implementing a family-funded house for the poor in Bohol, showed interest in the technology.

“We will see if we can incorporate the technology in the Libreng Alagad Ug Balay (LAB) funded by the Aumentado’s Balay sa Paglaum program,” he shared to the council.

The council also requested the Office of the Civil Defense Central Office and the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council to consider funding proposals from LGUs on the use of the technology for retrofitting houses as a disaster risk reduction measure under the Calamity Fund.

Finally, the RDC-CV also requested the Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF or Pag-IBIG Fund), Social Housing Finance Corporation (SHFC), and National Home Mortgage Finance Corporation (NHMFC) to consider offering financing options for implementing the technology. (RAHC/PIA-7/Bohol)

FOR CONSIDERATION. DPWH regional Director Engr Danilo Villa Jr., commits to further make studies on the technology for disaster resilient houses, even as the RDC intends to popularize the technology by proposing financing options so foundation-less houses and low income families can avail of the technology. (PIABohol)

Food inflation in Bohol

at -2.3 percent in May

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol (PIA)—With still a -2.3 percent rate of food inflation in May this year, life of Boholanos may be a tad better than it was in May last year.

May 2024 food inflation registered 9.1 percent.

This, despite an onslaught of unfavourable factors that has triggered price movements in major food options here.

“Slow price movements in Rice and Corn which comprise a big portion of the family budget played well for Boholanos. Rice, with an inflation rate of -16.8 moved to -15.8 in May while corn which was -20.0 percent in April rolled to -18.9 percent in May,” points out Philippine Statistics Authority supervising statistician Jessamyn Anne Alcazaren during the recent monthly Inflation Rate data dissemination.

The PSA which sends enumerators to monitor price increases in basic commodities all over major markets in Bohol noted “a lower inflation noted in vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses at -11.5 percent in May from 3.9 percent in April, and ready-made food and other Food products from 1.3 in April to 0.2 percent in May.”

With lower inflation in these food items, these may have helped trim food inflation here, as conditions have become un-favorable lately.

In April, PSA reports that the rate of inflation in meat and other parts of slaughtered animals was 10.6 percent, which crept to 10.8 by May, with the fiesta season and the continuing uncertainty brought by the threat of African Swine Fever (ASF) in some family pig farms.

For fish and other seafoods, aside from the changing culture of seafoods over meat in fiestas, the warming oceans brought by the peak of summer driving fishes away to deeper and cooler waters could have floored the inflation rate from 4.7 percent in April to 8.2 percent in May.

Consequently, hotter climates mean animals and livestock tend to be in the shades, and production of milk and eggs could be affected that from 6.3 percent price inflation in April, milk and other dairy products and eggs surged to 10.8 percent in May. (PIABohol)

STILL BEHAVING. Inflation rate in Bohol continued to be better as price movements remained at little increments, according to PSA Bohol supervising statistician Jessamyne Anne Alcazaren. The price may have stirred but not necessarily shaken the costs of basic commodities despite unfavourable conditions. PIA Bohol)