Posted on 08 Oct 2015
As the Philippine construction industry sustains growth, the demand for high-quality building materials is expected to increase due to the country’s unpredictable climate.
“In the Philippines, weather swings from scorching heat to torrential rains throughout a year,” said Ernesto Ordo?ez, president of the Cement Manufacturers’ Association of the Philippines (CeMAP).
“This can affect the integrity of infrastructure, especially those built from materials that cannot withstand these conditions.”
For 2015, the turnover for both public and private construction projects is forecasted to reach P1.7 trillion. As this growth continues, the demand for higher quality building materials will spike as well.
Nathaniel B. Diola, associate professor of civil engineering at the University of the Philippines, said: “Concrete is still a popular choice for companies engaged in construction because of its durability, cost and performance.”
Globally, annual concrete use is twice as much as all other building materials combined (including wood, steel, plastic, and aluminum). In the Philippines, cement sales reached 21.3 metric tons last year—marking a 9.6-percent increase compared with 2013.
Ordo?ez, likewise, cited durability and sustainability as key factors in selecting building materials.
With the archipelagic Philippines as a natural disaster-prone country, durability should be a top priority for construction projects.
In contrast with other building materials like wood and glass, Ordo?ez said concrete is more resilient during natural disasters. In fact, according to the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, concrete can ably withstand extreme weather conditions such as hurricanes.
Ordo?ez also cited better heat absorption and minimal CO2 emissions as key advantages of concrete against other building materials. Advances also allow us to design concrete that can withstand chloride and sulphate attacks which are common risks in coastal areas.
The Philippines has the most expensive electricity rates in Southeast Asia, placing particular emphasis on energy savings across all sectors. And construction is no exception.
Ordo?ez said: “Concrete plays a major role in sustaining the country’s growing demand for high-quality infrastructure. Very few building materials can replace it in terms of effectiveness, cost and performance.”
