1. Shelter and livelihood improvement project for the indigenous
communities of Aklan, Philippines
Recovery after typhoon Yolanda
Document prepared by Annalisa Caimi │architect consultant for CRAterre
Diocesan Social Action Centre DSAC - Kalibo in partnership with Secours Catholi�ue/Caritas France & Caritas Belgium
Project summery │ Pilot phase 2014
CRAterre International Centre for Earth Construction

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Shelter and livelihood improvement project for the indigenous communities of Aklan │ Pilot phase
Project background
From 6th
to 9th
November 2013, the super typhoon Yolanda (internationally called
Haiyan) struck the Philippines. It has been the strongest tropical cyclone ever
recorder, causing massive destruction of houses, infrastructures and livelihood
resources. According to data provided by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management Centre (April 2014), 16’078’181 persons have been affected and
1’084’762 houses have been totally or partially damaged.
In both coastland and inland situation, the amount of destroyed houses has been
huge, due to floods, storm surges and winds. The highest level of destruction has
been assessed in rural areas. Houses built with nipa, bamboo and wood have
been assessed as the least resilient: 94% of nipa houses have been either totally
(29%) or partially destroyed (49% with major damages, 25% partially damaged);
83% of timber houses have been damaged (12% totally destroyed, 32% with major
damages and 39% partially damaged). Still, these types of housing are widely built
by people extremely vulnerable in terms of livelihood and resources. Only 17% of
surveyed households living in nipa huts have been able to complete, or will be able
to complete, rehabilitation and repairs by their own (Philippines Shelter Cluster,
Typhoon Haiyan Shelter and Wash Assessment report, January 2014).
Following a request by the Diocesan Social Action Centre – Caritas Kalibo, in April 2014 an assessment has been jointly
carried out in the municipality of Libacao (Aklan Province) by DSAC staff and representatives of Secours Catholique/Caritas
France, Caritas Belgium and CRAterre.
On this basis, from May 2014 a shelter and livelihood program has started, managed by DSAC Kalibo with a financial
assistance provided by Secours Catholique/Caritas France and Caritas Belgium as well as a technical and methodological
support from CRAterre for the shelter part of the program.
The adopted overall approach aims to strength local capacities for both durable shelter and sustainable livelihood, through
an integrated and community-based project (including shelter, livelihood, wash and capacities enhancement activities) on
the basis of existing resources and know-how, local building culture and disaster-resilient practices.
The activities related to the two main cores of the program – shelter and livelihood- are carried out simultaneously. For
the shelter part, three main steps have been considered:
Assessment phase
2 weeks
(March-April 2014)
Pilot phase
6 months
(May-October 2014)
Shelter � DRR
program
2 years
(from January 2015)
typhoon Yolanda
November 2013
Yolanda track with signal scale (PAGASA)
Furthermore, the Philippinesare annually affected by several typhoons (with an average of 26 to 30 per year) that, although
not so destructive as Yolanda, bring extensive damages caused by strong wind, floods, storm surges and landslides.
Shelter pro�ect timeframe

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Shelter and livelihood improvement project for the indigenous communities of Aklan │ Pilot phase
Overall strategy
The pilot phase aims to test and set up the overall approach as well as to implement some activities preparing the next
phase (technical and methodological training, assessment of the actual situation, houses construction, evaluation, etc.).
Concerning construction activities, the initial focus is on newly built houses targeting families whose houses have been
totally damaged during typhoon Yolanda. During the pilot phase a total of 11 houses are built: the first one is a pilot house
as support for technical training and test of technical solutions. In the future, this house will be used by the DSAC as office
and accommodation for the staff working on the field. After completion of the pilot house, in each barangay houses for 5
beneficiaries are built.
construction of houses
capacity building &training
of local artisans & staff
awareness-raising activities
for local communities &
stakeholders
participatory assessment &
community-based decision
making process

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Shelter and livelihood improvement project for the indigenous communities of Aklan │ Pilot phase
Technical specifications
Pilot house
The pilot house construction began on June 2nd
and has been completed on July 7th
. This construction includes elements
from local building culture (such as raised platform, ventilation systems, roof covering stabilization systems, connexions) as
well as improvements of identified weakness (e.g. foundations, structure and roof bracing, ventilation system for kitchen).
Use of local materials has been promoted as well as optimization of local techniques to improve durability and reduce
maintenance (e.g. limited use of nails with bamboo). This house aims to be a catalogue of different solutions that
beneficiaries and other families can adopt according to their own capacities. For example: 5 different types of wall have
been realized using different quantities of bamboo and nails. 2 types have already been adopted by some neighbours non
beneficiaries to built their new shop-house.
Pilot house: North-East façade Pilot house: North-West façade
Pilot house: inside living space Pilot house: inside living space with kitchen Pilot house: South-East façade
Exhibition in the pilot house during inauguration ceremony
The pilot house as support for training of local artisans and awareness-raising activities with beneficiaries and local communities
On site training of local carpenters Visit and explanation with the field engineer

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Shelter and livelihood improvement project for the indigenous communities of Aklan │ Pilot phase
Construction materials
A small part of the materials used for the construction is supplied by DSAC from Kalibo.
These include materials for foundations (cement, post straps, nuts and bolts), nails, CGI sheets for kitchen roof, umbrella
nails, waterproof washers, and borax and boric acid for bamboo treatment.
These materials are not available locally but can be easily found also in Libacao Poblacion.
The main part of materials needed for housing construction (bamboo and timber for the structure, rattan for tying,
ambulang for roof covering) are locally and freely available.
Timber is coming exclusively from trees fallen during typhoon Yolanda; forest is not affected and problems arising from
trees blocking the rivers during rainy season are reduced. Bamboo and rattan are cut by the beneficiaries in the forest.
A part of the materials and labour needed is provided by the beneficiaries. They are responsible for collecting local
materials, hauling as well as for the cleaning of rattan and the preparation of ambulang, according to local practices.
Bamboo treatment
To improve the durability of bamboo, all the bamboo culms and slices used in the construction are treated. Bamboos are
deepened in a solution composed by water, borax and boric acid and then dried; the solutions can be used several times.
Specific guidelines have been developed.
Borax and boric acid are not dangerous for health and environment; they improve resistance to insect attacks, moisture
and they are fire retardant.
Bamboos used for the pilot house have not been treated due to time constraints; it will serve as sample to better
understand the lifespan of untreated bamboo.
Other and cheaper solutions may be experimented (such as deepening in current water) to allow people that cannot
access to borax and boric acid to still to improve the durability of bamboo.
Bamboo treatment: perforation of diaphragms, tank for treatment, mix of the solution, treated bamboo slices
Preparation of local materials: bamboo, rattan, wood, ambulang

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Shelter and livelihood improvement project for the indigenous communities of Aklan │ Pilot phase
some technical aspects from local building culture
Connexions:
tying with natural rattan,
connexion without nails,
carving of wooden and
bamboo elements
Floor:
structure with bamboo
and wooden joists,
bamboo slices tied with
natural rattan
Roof:
covering with ambulang,
stabilization systems
(bamboo grid and
bamboos on the side of
the roof to avoid blown
off),
double layer of ambulang
on the upper and lower
part of the roof for better
protection from rain
Openings:
sliding doors and
windows; ventilation
system (bamboo grids)

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Shelter and livelihood improvement project for the indigenous communities of Aklan │ Pilot phase
some improvements of existing practices
Foundations: concrete for primary posts, stone for secondary posts Drainage: for rain water, for domestic use (sink)
Roof window for kitchen ventilation Bracing: main structure at floor and upper ring beam level, roof trusses
Different types of wall have been tested with
different quantities of bamboos and nails, speed of
construction and visual/thermal insulation:
T1: open bamboo (tadtad),
5 bamboos and few nails; time: 1/2 day/2p
T2: double side open bamboo (tadtad)
10 bamboos and few nails; time: 1 day/2p
T3: bamboo slices (baligta)
10 bamboos and few nails; time: 1 day/2p
T4: open bamboo (tadtad)
6 bamboos, no nails; time: 1 day/2p
T5: double layer: bamboo slices
+ open bamboo (tadtad)
18 bamboo, no nails, time; 1 1/2 days/2p
Wall T1 Wall T2 Wall T3
Wall T4 Wall T5

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Shelter and livelihood improvement project for the indigenous communities of Aklan │ Pilot phase
Beneficiaries’ houses
Starting from the pilot house structural pattern, specific adaptation have been done according to each beneficiary situation
and needs. These adaptations are discussed with the field engineer before to start to collect materials and they include:
house orientation and position on the plot, openings (size, type, and position), location of the kitchen (under the main
roof or attached), types of wall, etc. Furthermore, 2 sizes of house are considered according to beneficiary’s situation: 6
posts house for a small family (< 5 persons) and 8 posts house for bigger families.
The construction of the first 2 houses have started during the month of July 2014 (in Oyang on July 7th
and in Manika on
July 14th
). An avarage duration of 24 working days has been considered for the construction of an 8 posts house.
At the end of October 2014, the 10 houses have been completed in both barangays. All the beneficiairies have contributed
to the construction, providing local materials and labour.
Costs:
The cost of an 8 posts house is about 93’134 PHP (1’670 €).
This includes a contribution from the beneficiary up to 19’379 PHP (350 €) for local materials and labour.
The cost of a 6 posts house is about 67’948 PHP (1’220 €).
This includes a contribution from the beneficiary up to 14’167 PHP (260 €) for local materials and labour.
8 posts house in Manika Interior of an 8 posts house in Oyang
A newly built 6 posts house

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Shelter and livelihood improvement project for the indigenous communities of Aklan │ Pilot phase
Textes & photographs by Annalisa Caimi
Annalisa Caimi │PhD MA-EPFL DSA-terre
annalisa.caimi@gmail.com