MINDANAO inaugurated a pioneering sustainably-constructed school today at Landan Elementary School in Polomolok, South Cotabato. The 175-sqm, two-classroom school building was constructed using Base Bahay Foundation Inc.’s (BASE) proprietary Cement-Bamboo Frame Technology (CBFT) combined with a bamboo truss system. Designed to meet the Department of Education’s (DepEd) standards, each classroom also doubles as an evacuation center during typhoons.
The initiative is the result of a collaboration between Dole Philippines, AY Foundation, Mahintana Foundation, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and the local government of Polomolok. It is a core component of the Adopt-A-School Program (AASP), a classroom development program funded by Dole Philippines and A.Y. Foundation, Inc., which uplifts grassroots tri-people communities in the upland areas of Sarangani and South Cotabato Province by improving academic performance through enhanced access to quality education.
The school building was built by the Philippine Army's 549th Engineer "Kapayapaan" Battalion, 6th Infantry Division. CBFT structures undergo rigorous testing against typhoons, earthquakes, fire and insect infestations, ensuring exceptional durability. Beyond resilience, CBFT school buildings demonstrate that sustainability and robust construction can coexist. Lifecycle assessments show that bamboo-integrated construction can reduce embodied CO2 emissions by up to 70 percent compared to conventional concrete systems.
Engr. Luis Felipe Lopez, BASE general manager, said, “This technology offers a scalable solution to the nation's classroom backlog, providing resilient, eco-friendly structures that also boost the local economy. We invite more government agencies and organizations to join us in making this vision a global reality.”
The Philippines faces a staggering nationwide classroom backlog of approximately 165,000 classrooms, a challenge that could take decades to address at current construction rates. Experts suggest building at least 7,000 classrooms annually for the next 15 years to bridge this gap. DepEd Education Program Supervisor Michael Poblador said that CBFT “addresses our urgent need for more classrooms while providing safe, sustainable, and climate-resilient learning spaces for our students.”
Accredited by the Accreditation of Innovative Technologies for Housing (Aitech) by the National Housing Authority, CBFT is also suitable for non-residential structures like community centers, offices, industrial facilities and commercial buildings.