● United Nations recognizes Patrimonio Hoy and Centros
Productivos de Autoempleo programs in the category of accessible
housing solutions
CEMEX, S.A.B. de C.V. (NYSE:CX), announced today that it received the
United Nations’ Habitat Business Award in the category of Accessible
Housing Solutions for its programs Patrimonio Hoy and Centros
Productivos de Autoempleo.
The award recognizes CEMEX for promoting improvement in the standard of
living for families through do-it-yourself construction pursued under
the auspices of Patrimonio Hoy and Centros Productivos de
Autoempleo.
UN-Habitat, a United Nations agency for human settlements, assists poor
people in urban areas, transforming cities into safer, healthier and
greener places, offering better opportunities and allowing people to
live with dignity. This agency works with organizations at all levels,
including all spheres of government, civilian and private sectors, to
cooperate in establishing, managing, planning and financing sustainable
urban development.
The jury viewed Patrimonio Hoy and the Centros Productivos de
Autoempleo as outstanding initiatives of innovative business models
that propel community development and demonstrate the feasibility of
social and economic rewards in the housing sector, principally at the
base of the pyramid.
CEMEX is the only Latin American company recognized in this competition,
and the winning programs were selected from more than 25 initiatives
throughout the world in the category of Accessible Housing Solutions.
Patrimonio Hoy is a program that offers micro-financing to
families with incomes of 2 to 3 minimum wages –in Mexico- so that they
can build, expand or remodel their homes. CEMEX finances the cost of
construction materials, provides technical assistance and ensures the
timely delivery of materials. All of these practices reduce the time
needed for construction by more than 60 per cent and generate savings of
up to 35 per cent for the beneficiaries of the program.
In its more than 10 years of existence, its work has benefited more than
235,000 families with financing, which all together exceeded 110 million
dollars, with a recovery percentage greater than 99 per cent.
Patrimonio Hoy currently has 85 beneficiary-care centers in 44
cities throughout the country, and its successful business model has
enabled it to extend its presence in other countries. Today, it operates
20 beneficiary-care centers in Colombia, Costa Rica and Nicaragua.
The Centros Productivos de Autoempleo (CPA) constitute a practice
whereby families with income less than two minimum wages -in Mexico- can
produce basic materials intended for construction or expansion of their
homes. CEMEX provides the necessary machinery and consumables, while the
community contributes the labor.
At the end of the day, participants receive 50 per cent of the
production attained as payment, and the other 50 per cent is given to
CEMEX to sell.
Presently, there are 10 centers of this type in various states of the
Republic, where material was produced to build more than 2,600 houses of
10 square meters, and more than 1,500 jobs were created.
CEMEX is a global building materials company that provides high-quality
products and reliable service to customers and communities in more than
50 countries throughout the world. CEMEX has a rich history of improving
the well-being of those it serves through its efforts to pursue
innovative industry solutions and efficiency advancements and to promote
a sustainable future. For more information, visit www.cemex.com.
CEMEX
Media Relations
Jorge Pérez,
(52-81) 8888-4334
or
Media Relations
Gerardo de
la Torre, (52-81) 8888-4334