The Philippines was hit with no less than three natural disasters since October 2013, causing major damage to the land and to the livelihoods of the people who live there. Housing is in short supply, with people still living in tents and makeshift shelters. Paul Staples, a realtor working from Kahuku, and other like-minded friends, decided to do something to help the homeless people in the Philippines. “We saw a need, and instead of waiting for someone else, we just went and did it,” said Staples. After building two disaster-proof homes in Tacloban with Boy Scouts from Utah, Staples and his associates founded the new organization IHHELPP ( Improving Housing, Health, Education and Livelihood of the Poor in the Philippines). They have ambitious building plans that include building a university. Nhil Banda, a senior in ICS-communications from the Philippines, said, “I was really excited when I heard about their plans on building homes in the Philippines and their ultimate goal of building an LDS-standard university there. It's wonderful to know that there are people who are willing to help the members in my home country. It's truly amazing.” The small team of IHHELPP was able to erect small, two-story homes in less than a week thanks to a material called Thermasave, Staples said, which research testing has proved is bullet-proof, earthquake-proof, wind-proof and relatively cheap. Simply put, it is a thick foam panel between two sheets of concrete, resembling an ice-cream sandwich. It is ICC (International Code Council) certified, which “says it all. No questions asked,” according to Staples. That designation helped IHHELPP in negotiations with the Housing managers of the Filipino government, Staples said. They were even invited into the home of Vice President Jejomar Binay. Staples said they are very close to getting a contract to build 250,000 of these disaster-proof homes in the Philippines, which he said is exciting. Finding how to create sustainable houses is a big problem all over the world. Rick Haws, who works on developing housing in Africa with the Utah-based Eden Group, said, “A building needs to have a 60-year life. To determine that, you have to start with the site, looking at climate and wind and seismic factors. Having this in the Philippines—if it can get validation and grantees, which I understand they have—then you’ve got a viable and sustainable solution.” The creator of Thermosave, Hoot Haddock “enjoys saving lives. So, he joined us on this venture,” said Staples. He said Mrs. Haddock was very impressed with the service the LDS Church members do, as the founders of IHHELPP, Paul and Lolita Staples, and Rene and Jenneth Doria, are members of the church. Staples outlined some of IHHELPP’s ambitious aims. “Our goal is to bring these houses to Hawaii, and to get factories building Thermasave in the Philippines. That would provide jobs for the Filipino people and material to build the disaster-proof community and a private, LDS-standard university for all the poor who can’t travel here [BYU-Hawaii] for education,” said Staples. An unfinished house on Laie Point, built with the same Thermasave material, is being sold for $950,000, he said, and it should be able to withstand any hurricanes or high winds.Uploaded January 27, 2015
Writer: Samone Isom
