The impact of innovative construction technologies in low-cost housing production

• Main Author: De Villa, Elsa H.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 1996
• Subjects: Technological innovations; Housing > Finance; House construction > Costs; Dwellings > Estimates and costs; Low-income housing; Civil and Environmental Engineering
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_masteral/1764
• Institution: De La Salle University

This study, which attempted to discover the impact of innovative technology on low cost housing, using a structured survey questionnaire as the primary data gathering instrument. The objective of the study is to determine how the fullest potential of the technology could be tapped to alleviate the housing situation in the country. The respondents were composed of manufacturers and developers of the technology. The factors adversely affecting the development and use of innovative technology: high cost of financing for the mass production of innovative house component, inefficient mortgage take-out processing, inadequate research and development, inadequate dissemination of technology-related information, inadequate monitoring of technology's price and quality, and weak implementation of institutional systems and policies.Considering the innovative technology's rate of contribution to the reduction of housing backlog, it is underutilized. Its underutilization, as generally revealed in this study, translates to a highly insignificant level of utilization and, therefore, a very low impact on the production of low cost housing.Hence, this study recommends improvement on the existing system such as integration of all the functions related to the development and use of innovative technology in housing. Under the new system, a new Office will be created. It would be composed of various agencies with Housing and Urban Development & Coordinating Council (HUDCC) as the lead agency. It shall operate independently and be staffed by representatives from participating agencies. The functions of the Office will include technology accreditation, financing the manufacture of innovative house component, more extensive research including information dissemination related to the programs, policies, and incentives supporting the use of innovative technology, periodic monitoring of quality and price and other policies and programs related to technological development.The policies should adapt to the ever-changing needs of the industry. The manufacturer should consider the objectives of all participants and/or segments in the industry-such as the objectives of the government, the needs of the industry which include the sustenance of the businessman's investment, and the goals of the ultimate user -- the no-permanent-income or low-income-earner.Further studies on policy formulation and implementing guidelines for the operation of the new Office, development of criteria and product standards, environmental issues related to the technology are suggested.