The Civil Engineering Department successfully concluded its extension project, "Design and Provide Technical Assistance in the Construction of Bale Aeta, an Indigenous Housing Structure for the Aeta Community of Sitio Mapali Danum, Capas Tarlac," with a formal turnover ceremony on November 11, 2025, in Capas, Tarlac. This extension activity was spearheaded by Engr. Charmaine Czeninia Reguindin, alongside her team of experts, including Engr. Ryan Layug, Engr. Edwin Dela Vega, Engr. Randy Policarpio, Engr. Rizza Gamalinda, and Engr. Justine Bernard Hasegawa.
This Bale Aeta housing project was a community-based initiative that sought to provide a culturally sensitive and structurally resilient home for one of the Aeta families living in Sitio Mapali Danum, Barangay Bueno, Capas, Tarlac. The primary beneficiary of this project was the family of the community chieftain, Mr. Alex Vitug, whose modest home previously sheltered two families under one roof. Their existing structure was made of tied and hammered wood, woven bamboo walls, and bare earth flooring—conditions that reflected not only a lack of space but also vulnerability to environmental hazards and structural instability.
This project introduced an innovative methodology by combining traditional indigenous housing practices with modern engineering solutions. Unlike previous housing programs that relied solely on concrete or non-sustainable materials, this project focused on using bamboo as a primary structural material, a practice that has yet to be widely accepted in the Philippines despite its potential for resilience and sustainability. By utilizing bamboo and incorporating local materials, the project promoted cost-effective, sustainable housing solutions tailored to the community’s environment.
Text and Photos by: Ms. S. Carmen
