James Hardie initiates partnership with NHA to hold carpentry workshops

Continuing its commitment to allow every Filipino to live without compromise, James Hardie Philippines, together with the National Housing Authority (NHA), conducts a series of livelihood workshops on basic carpentry intended for carpenters living in NHA housing projects.

The series of workshops gives carpenters insights on the proper installation of HardieFlex^® sheets. Attendees learn basic installation of HardieFlex^® sheets on steel and wooden frames following correct spacings as well as the proper way of cutting and jointing the sheets. Emphasis is also placed on using James Hardie accessories such as HardieDrive^® Screws and HardieFlex^™ Putty to obtain the best results.

NHA signed a memorandum of agreement with James Hardie in September 2014. The partnership advocates improving the livelihood of homeowners with basic carpentry skills by teaching them how to install HardieFlex^® sheets which will help them improve their skills and even secure a job.

NHA Livelihood Chief B for Southville 3 Housing Project (Muntinlupa) Evangeline Javier was pleased to see the first batch of carpenters actively participating in the workshops. “These workshops can be very helpful to the carpenters, because we are aiming to form a guild of carpenters from the participants. We will have a database of carpenters whom we can commission for our ongoing and future housing projects,” she said. Javier added that the NHA may endorse those who show outstanding skills during the workshops to the construction companies and developers of the institution.

“Our decision to partner with the National Housing Authority echoes our mission to bring forth quality living using fiber cement technology that is, HardieFlex^®. As the construction industry starts to evolve by utilizing quality building products, those who learn how to properly install HardieFlex^® will have an edge when applying for a construction job,” said James Hardie Philippines Country Manager Mark Sergio.

Workshops have already been conducted in the areas of Cavite and Rizal. More of these will be conducted at select NHA housing projects for the rest of the year.

One of the participants of the workshop expressed his enlightenment after the one-day workshop. “Sa tagal ko ng nagkakarpentero, palagi kong ginagamit ang HardieFlex^®. Pero ngayon ko lang nalaman na may mga special HardieFlex^® accessories palang ginagamit para mas mapatibay ito,” (I’ve always used HardieFlex^® products in my projects but I didn’t know that there are specific HardieFlex^® accessories that we should use with the HardieFlex^® fiber cement board to make it last longer) said Rikki Bantang, 47.

James Hardie is a highly-respected innovator and market leader in the industry of fiber cement technology and the maker of HardieFlex^®, an impact, fire, moisture damage and termite-resistant and asbestos-free fiber cement board. The skilled people at the James Hardie plant in Cabuyao, Laguna have designed HardieFlex^® to withstand the Philippine climate making HardieFlex^® the most trusted brand by architects.