Caritas Manila and the Onocom Group recently marked a historic milestone in both humanitarian work and Philippine construction by breaking ground on the country’s very first 3D-printed building. Held on May 20, 2026, at the Caritas Manila Headquarters in Paco, Manila. The groundbreaking ceremony celebrated the upcoming construction of a multi-purpose facility.
This unique structure is being donated through the combined philanthropic efforts of Onocom Japan, Onocom Philippines, and Providere Onocom, serving as a prime example of how emerging architectural technologies can be directly applied to support vital social development initiatives.
The pioneering project officially introduces large-scale 3D concrete printing technology to the Philippine construction landscape, aiming to create a sustainable blueprint for the future. “If we were going to practice and build a house just for the sake of practicing, why do it on government land? Why don’t we donate the facility instead? That’s where the idea originally came from,” shared Onocom representative Matus, reflecting on the initial spark for the project. “We were looking for an NGO that was well-established and had enough space for our 3D printer. That’s when we came across Caritas Manila. We were very happy to see and hear that Father Anton and his team were very welcoming.” By utilizing automated systems that construct the building layer by layer, this advanced method provides a much more efficient alternative to traditional building techniques, notably minimizing material waste while significantly increasing structural precision.
While the immediate goal is to expand Caritas’ facilities, the project partners are already looking toward broader, vertical horizons for the local construction industry. Fellow Onocom representative Averilla explained the strategic vision behind the build, noting, “One purpose of us partnering with Caritas is for us to be able to build the first pioneer project of a 3D concrete building in the Philippines. Basically, we’re building it for the purpose of helping Caritas expand its store. But probably in the future, there’s a chance that it might be used for multiple-story buildings because right now, that’s what we are undertaking with DOST—the study of using it for additional floor levels.” This forward-thinking approach beautifully aligns with the choice of Caritas Manila as the beneficiary, honoring the ministry’s long-standing dedication to serving vulnerable communities through poverty alleviation, education, livelihood programs, and disaster response.
Once completed, the innovative 3D-printed structure is envisioned to become a bustling hub for community empowerment and spiritual growth. It will regularly host training programs, religious activities, social development initiatives, and critical disaster response operations for the lead social service ministry of the Archdiocese of Manila. Reflecting on the impact of the partnership and its alignment with their mission to bring sustainable hope to underserved areas, Rev. Fr. Anton C.T. Pascual, Executive Director of Caritas Manila, expressed his hope that the multi-purpose center will bring people together to appreciate both charity and innovation. As construction officially gets underway, this historic collaboration stands as a powerful testament to how modern technology can be effectively harnessed as an instrument for social good.