Our goal is to research, develop and transfer housing technologies that can better respond to local housing demand of low income families, contribute to socioeconomic development in a sustainable way, create employment and generate income locally. We have been addressing the problem of delivering affordable housing by developing building material and construction techniques that can be used by unskilled labour which while lowering the cost of housing procure good, solid and durable houses that can resist earthquakes, floods and typhoons. Houses built this way consistently undercut traditional and conventional construction system by as much as 30 to 50%.

The building components we developed are all cement based, easy to prefabricate locally and can easily be erected without the need for heavy-equipment. As they are interlocking and self-aligning, they can be put in place by unskilled labour permitting families and friends to participate in the construction of their house. These building components are produced using simple machines and moulds that can be configured into various types of production facilities promoting micro, small and medium scale enterprises.

We believe that local populations should be involved in the design of their communities, in production of building materials and in the construction process itself. After all it is their houses that will be rebuilt. Reconstruction projects can be successful if they are rooted in the community, present innovative solutions and address livelihood by making it possible for some people to earn a living and generate income from these projects.

Our approach has been recognized by the United Nations Human Settlements Program and the international community as contributing to housing and economic development through the transfer of technology and has been compiled in their Best Practices database for others to learn from and incorporate in their own work.