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Lafarge helps to build typhoon-proof ‘French Village’ in the Philippines

Published by , Editor - Hydrocarbon Engineering
World Cement,


Lafarge, and other members of the French business community in the Philippines, have continued their support of the Typhoon Yolanda effort by launching the ‘French Village’ project. Construction will take place on 5400 m2 of land donated by the Cebu provincial government. According to local news sources, the project will see the construction of 100 typhoon-proof houses in the coastal region of Northern Cebu, which was one of the areas hit hardest by the typhoon. The private sector task force, France-Philippines United Action (FPUA), will coordinate the 12-month construction project.

Don H. Lee, President of Lafarge Holdings Philippines Inc., told local press that the company wanted to supplement the relief efforts by rebuilding permanent homes in the region. Twenty French companies that operate in the country are supporting the project. Lafarge is set to help coordinate funding for the construction of new housing and provide building materials such as aggregates and cement. The company’s plant in Danao, Cebu, will be used as a base for construction materials and volunteers.

The ‘French Village’ project will be implemented in collaboration with Habitat for Humanity, which has previously designed disaster resilient houses. Charlie Ayco, Chief Executive Officer for Habitat for Humanity, told local press that the houses will be constructed using a hyperbolic parabola design and the roofs are to be made of a thin concrete shell. The buildings will be designed to withstand 275 km/h winds and intensity 8 tremors. Each 20 m2 house will cost around PH200 000 to build and will house a family of five.

The French Ambassador, Gilles Garachon, said that plans are in place to construct more housing in the area, depending on funding. The town of Daanbantayan in Northern Cebu is reported to need around 4000 new houses and about 18 000 repairs. More reconstruction projects in the region look likely, however, as more businesses in the area are striving to support the relief effort.

Read more about Lafarge’s involvement in the typhoon effort here.

Edited from various sources by Rosalie Starling

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/asia-pacific-rim/09012014/lafarge_help_to_build_typhoon_proof_french_village_in_the_philippines_575/

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