Chaired by the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC), the AITECH Inter-Agency Committee is a government body tasked with evaluating and approving technologies for low-cost housing.
The AITECH’s accreditation certificate serves as an endorsement of Diamond Head’s system for low-cost housing projects, which it introduced during Worldbex 1999, Asia’s premier building and construction exposition, organized by Worldbex Services International (WSI).
Darrell M. Sabihon, Diamond Head president and chief executive officer, said, "The Worldbex 1999 was so well-organized that I was able to meet and force partnerships with major developers in the Philippines. This in turn, made Diamond Head a major player in the Philippines and is now recorded with the AITECH Division. Owing to this accreditation with the housing authority, the company is now in a better position to conduct business in the country."
With the certification, Diamond Head Homes hopes to be able to offer more of its services to the local market and continue furthering the development of the Philippine construction industry.
In addition, the firm is also keen on helping provide cost-effective housing for the masses. According to Sabihon, he anticipates better mortgage acceptance of the technology among government financing agencies as one positive offshoot of the AITECH endorsement.
Moreover, Diamond Head formed a joint venture with two local firms, Quadrillon Group of Companies and Fortune Star Construction and Development Corporation, after participating in Worldbex 2000. Under the joint venture agreement, the three companies plan to build around 100,000 low-cost housing units in Cavite, Bulacan and San Mateo, Rizal over a period of five years.
Another project in the pipeline is the shipping and distribution in the local market of the K-lath wire mesh material, a product of the Double Wire K-Lath System, designed to save costly labor while providing stronger and more error-free construction.
On account of the positive results that the company enjoyed from its participation in Worldbex trade exhibitions, Sabihon announced that Diamond Head will take part again in Worldbex 2002.