Paving the way for community, environment and history

Manila, Philippines - Cement is such an integral element of the modern cityscape that it often goes unnoticed.

For cement producer Holcim, the job does not end with supplying their products. On a recent roadshow, Holcim’s sales and marketing team, lead by senior vice president for sales, marketing, distribution, and technical services Ed Sahagun, traveled through Northern Luzon to see some concrete results of their products.

In Mabalacat, Pampanga, Xevera Homes stands strong and bright, with hardly a hint of its past. Not so long ago, that very place was covered in lahar. In January this year, Delfin Lee started to resurrect the area, “like a phoenix,” he says. Xevera Homes is indeed like the mythical bird, rising quite literally from the ashes.

Xevera Homes offers low-cost housing with high class amenities. Residents enjoy the use of a clubhouse, swimming pool, church, tennis court, and even their own amusement park.

Once inside the subdivision, residents no longer have a need to go outside its gates – there is already a commercial area and a market which, Lee adds, generates a sustainable income for many members of the community.

Perhaps what sets Xevera Homes apart from other subdivisions – no matter what social class – is that it provides free education for its residents, from elementary to high school. Xevera’s school is made possible by a partnership with the Department of Education. Though it is a public school, the school’s quality of education and facilities rival those of private schools, with computers, speech labs, and a media room.

“Once you enter Xevera, you feel rich,” says Lee on what makes the project unique. “Any ordinary working class Pinoy deserves to feel that way.” A two-floor townhouse unit in Xevera, with a 45-square-meter floor area and 45-square-meter lot area, goes for around P5,000 per month.

Holcim’s Sahagun supports the project whole-heartedly. “It’s not just housing, it’s community building,” he says. Lee adds, “Community building is nation building.” Both Lee and Sahagun note that once residents see clean environment of Xevera, they start taking care of their surroundings. Having high-class amenities gives them dignity, makes them elevate their lifestyle, and gives them a better outlook on life.

This project may seem epic in its proportions, but Lee insists, “It was very easy.” All it took was strong partnerships, the proper use of funds, the right management, and a vision. Since it is so easy to do, the same low-cost housing with high-quality facilities can be replicated throughout the country. “If this can be done, there will be no more squatters in the Philippines.”

Aside from creating partnerships with their clients, Holcim also puts importance on caring for the environment, as reflected by their plant in La Union. The plant plays on both meanings of the word: while it is a cement plant, it is tucked away among plants and trees. In fact, whenever there are visitors, tree-planting activities are held.

Holcim has projects that are geared towards the environment and the community. Their Sea Urchin Project, for example, was implemented to make fishermen in the community stop dynamite fishing and, at the same time, create a sustainable livelihood for them. Started in August 2002, the project is said to generate an income of P864,000 per cycle. Another project, Mushroom Culture and Production, generates an income of P245,000 for the community. Employees, though, need not look outside to see the effort Holcim puts in caring for the environment. Right on plant grounds is an 800-meter Ecotrail made to promote environmental protection and consciousness. There is an orchidarium, plant nursery, vegetable garden, mushroom culture shed, and bamboo forest.

The plant itself monitors and reduces its emissions. It also has programs to restore the ecosystem in mined-out limestone caves.

As an international company, Holcim Philippines adheres to international environmental standards. The Philippine branch continually rates high among Holcim plants all over the world when it comes to being environmentally responsible.

The environment is not the only thing that needs to be preserved. During the trip Sahagun also signed a memorandum of agreement for a partnership with the United Architects of the Philippines (UAP) for the restoration of the Dingras church in Vigan, Ilocos Sur.

“Plaster is the skin of the structure. It is what protects the walls,” says architect Rey Florentino, Vigan chapter president of the UAP. Noting the importance of using the right plaster, Florentino says that they have found Holcim’s products to be the most suitable for the restoration. He adds, “We are cementing our commitment to heritage conservation.”

With partnerships with its clients, suppliers, architects, and the community, Holcim is paving the way for conserving heritage, protecting the environment, and realizing dreams.