Casa Agricolas: A Processing Terminal for Agri-fishery Products

The agriculture and fisheries sector is pivotal in generating employment for about
a third of the country’s labor force, thereby reducing poverty and inequality for three-
fourths of the poor who are in the rural areas. Agriculture and fisheries is also key to
providing raw materials to the manufacturing and service sectors, resulting in forward
linkages in terms of higher-paying and more stable job opportunities. Intensifying efforts
to revitalize the agriculture and fisheries and harnessing its growth potentials are
needed to promote more inclusive development.

However, according to Philippine Development Plan 2017- 2022 for Agriculture,

Forestry, and Fishery Sector: Sustaining Inclusive Economic Growth, crops subsector –
the primary driver of AFF – pulled down the overall growth. On the average, the GVA of
crops grew only by 0.2 percent during the period 2013 – 2015 and fisheries maintained
a weak performance (see table 1).

This is due to the continued failure to address the challenges that have lingered
over time and weakness to overcome the emerging ones. One major reason is the long-
standing challenges in agriculture and fisheries continue to hamper productivity. This
includes limited and poor provision of productivity-enhancing support services,
infrastructure and facilities for processing, handling, storage, and distribution of agri-
fishery products utilizing integrated research and development technology and also, a
low level of innovation in the country.
 Studies of the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization
and the University of the Philippines Los Baños show that inadequate postharvest
facilities result in relatively high losses, reaching up to 16.5 percent of production in rice,
7.8 percent in corn, 15.5 percent in banana, 30.4 percent in mango and 45.1 percent in
onion. For the fisheries sector, postharvest losses range from 20 to 40 percent of the
total outputs based on the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources data.

In addition, over the last six

years from 2011 to 2016,
Philippine economic growth
performance has been quite
remarkable averaging at 6.1
percent. The manufacturing
industry has been leading the
country’s growth with an average
of 6.9 percent while services posted an average growth of 6.6 percent during the same
period. Meanwhile, the performance of the agriculture, hunting, fishery, and forestry has
remained lackluster lagging behind services and industry with an average growth of only
1.9 percent. (see table 2)

Industry is dominated by the

manufacturing sector with a contribution
of about 23 percent in 2016. Agriculture,
forestry, and fishing share have been
declining from 10.5 percent in 2013 to
8.8 percent in 2016. Its growth has been
low at 1.1 percent in 2013, 0.1 percent in
2015 and negative 1.3 percent in 2016.
(see table 3)

Within the manufacturing industry, Table 3 shows that food processing is the
largest sub-sector in terms of contribution to total manufacturing value added with a
share of 34.7 percent in 2016. (see table 4)
 However, compared with the
performance of the food processing sub-
sector; agriculture, forestry, and fishing has
failed to match the significant economic
contribution of the former. The growth of
agriculture, forestry, and fishing remained
slow and low and even contracted in 2016.
The contribution of high value crops like

coconut, cacao, coffee, mangoes, and even

non-food crop like rubber remained
marginal. All these indicate the limited
linkages between the food manufacturing
and agriculture, forestry, and fishing sub-
sectors. Due to the low production of
domestic agricultural inputs, the food
manufacturing sub-sector has been sourcing
its raw materials from abroad. (see table 5)

Based on those facts, development of

infrastructure for agri-fishery products in
support of the Harmonized National R&D Agenda for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural
Resources 2017-2022 is needed to strengthen the sector and to have a better
community as a whole. This agenda espouses the use of advanced and emerging
technologies such as biotechnology, genomics, bioinformatics, nanotechnology, and
ICT as tools to find science and technology solutions to Agri-fishery problems and to
develop new products with significant impact to the sector. The presence of a food
terminal with post-harvest services will reinvigorate the country’s agricultural industry
minimizing and preventing the spoilage of agricultural products. As with the vision of
Philippine Inclusive Innovation Industrial Strategy (i3S), developing a globally
competitive and innovative agriculture industries, providing capacity building for post-
harvesting and R & D for production will reduce losses, maintain quality and food safety,
and increase the value of agricultural and fishery commodities. This directly aligns with
the Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022 which lays down the foundations for the
achievement of inclusive growth in the country by expanding economic opportunities in
industry and services through trabaho at negosyo.
 Aquaplex: A Water Sports and Tourism Complex in Nasugbu, Batangas

Being an archipelago, much of the Philippines is surrounded by bodies of water.

Composed of over 7, 107 islands and approximately 36, 289 km of coastline, the reason
why fishing is one of the most common livelihood in the country. Philippines outshine in
many different aquatic activities and water sports such as swimming, kayaking, surfing,
rowing and fishing.

Our dominating potential in water sports was proved in 2007, when the Philippine
Dragon Boat Team is announced as the fastest crew on the planet after winning the
World Dragon Boat Championship held in Sydney and gained a world record. In 2009,
they successfully defended their crown. Female paddlers during the same year also
gained the world record of being the fastest crew. Most of the players are fishermen
from Bacolod and from other provinces in the country. Unfortunately, in 2010, they were
not allowed to compete in the 2010 Asian Games by the Philippine Olympic Committee
(POC) because of report questions in the accuracy of their time trial. Up until now, the
rowers still trains in the polluted Manila Bay, living in a small apartment, and no facility
being provided for them. They receive minimal support from the government and
minimal recognition from the Filipino people.

Aside from Dragon Boat, Filipinos also excel in all different water sports and
activities. Below is the list of some of our exquisite achievements in water sports:

 In Surfing Division, Julian Marie Lavadia and Luigi Villafuerte won 1st and
2nd respectively last summer of 2011 held in Camarines Sur.
 In Sailing Division, Ridgely Balladares and Rommel Chavez scored no
less three first place finishes out of fifteen races at the Mirror Class World
Championships 2011 held in Albany, Western Australia.
 In Wakeboarding Division, Tynna Rosero, won first place on Women
Wakeskate category, Raffy Francisco and Dennis Devinagracia won 3rd
and 4th place respective on Amateur Wakeskate category all held during
the 2011 WWA Wake Park World Championships hel in Camarines Sur
 and Samantha Bermudez won first place in Ultimate Wake Championship
2011 Women’s Division.
 In Swimming Division, during the last 2008 Beijing Olympics, the
Philippine swimming team had the largest share of the country's athletes
represented in Beijing, with five swimmers competing in seven events.
Miguel Molina completed the men's 200 m individual medley, Christel
Simms completed the women's 100 m freestyle, JB Walsh completed the
men's 200 m butterfly and won his heat but didn't move on, and Daniel
Coakley completed the men's 50 m freestyle. Walsh's and Coakley's
achievements are also Southeast Asian records.
 In 2011, Diliman Preparatory School, barely sixmonths into its swimming
program, finished third overall behind the 12-gold medal performance of
 its 15 swimmers in the seventh Singapore Island Country Club age group
swimming championship.

Philippine Sports Tourism:

 Sports tourism is one of the fastest growing areas – 10 % of $4.5 trillion global
travel and tourism industry
 In 2010, government is expecting $17 billion or 13.6 % of GDP gross domestic
product contribution of sports tourism industry, almost 10 % from coming from
water sports. Or approx. .4 % of Global travel and tourism industry.
 However, the facility for sports particularly water sports is not enough to lead us
to significant development and mergence of the sports tourism sector.
 According to those facts, there is a need to develop Sports Tourism industry in
our country for a better community. We can develop or enhance it more through water
sports knowing that we are surrounded by beautiful bodies of water and coastlines. In
addition, providing tourism related services, facilities, information to facilitate domestic
and foreign tourists visiting the state is a necessity. Tourism has a vital part in income
generation and economic development of a city. To establish it, ensuring the efficiency
of services offered is an effective tool. It is one way to attract local and foreign nationals
and through this strategy, they tend to stay longer and have a privilege to experience
leisure activities as part of their visiting.

According to Conference Chairman Charles Lim “hopeful that through the Sports
and Tourism Summit, tourism stakeholders will be able to focus on developing sports
opportunities by investing in infrastructures, facilities, and support network to
accommodate major sport events and other sports tourism activities”.
 PARAIShOre: A Lakeshore Mixed-use Entertainment Complex
in C-6 Taguig City

In our country, environmental protection has been a loud issue, with population
growth, urbanization and industrial development, and human impacts on the country's
aquatic resources such as lakes have increased. Problems like lake sedimentation,
overexploitation of fisheries, and pollution have come about. Different lakes in our
country are under its dense condition due to industrialization and urbanization of the
city. The impacts on the lake are greatly seen due to its past records of flooding
combined with the direct and indirect disposal of domestic waste within the shorelines of
the lake. Moreover, developing a project in this site sometimes did not make any
progress due to the different concerns such as the threat of soil liquefaction.

The Philippines, being an archipelagic country, has the third longest shoreline in
the world, with great potential for development. In undertaking such development, the
fragile ecosystem of coastal land must be recognized, marine life must be conserved,
and the seascape enhanced, to add to the amenity value of these water and coastal
resources. Since the Philippines have many rivers and lakes that need to be protected
from degradation and pollution, it is important to initiate lakeshore mixed- use
developments that assign prime value to waterways traversing the metropolis, cities,
towns, and communities. Lakeshore mixed- use development can help preserve and
conserve natural assets that are imperilled for depletion if abuse of these water bodies
continues. Once fully developed, it will enhance, expand, and encourage a change in
lifestyle, conserve marine life, and most importantly, bring forth the appreciation of a
neglected asset. Furthermore, as an urban phenomenon that is gaining widespread
recognition and acceptance in many parts of the world including the Philippines, it would
help in reducing automobile dependence, supporting public transit, combating sprawl,
preserving open space and promoting economic development as well.

In relation, the project proposes anchoring mixed-use development along a

lakeshore to act as interplay between land and lake. With its multi-faceted entertainment
complex, people can appreciate the spatial expanse of the lake and experience the right
mix of living, working, shopping and entertainment. It aims to provide an architectural
solution to resist the problem in lake by envisioning a paradigm shift, which will
encourage inhabitants to care for the lake as a front door of development, a feature and
resource instead of neglecting the lake as a “back of the house”, eyesore and rubbish
bin. The proposal can attract more tourists and visitors who are interested in natural
tourist destinations. It can also help to uplift the tourism industry of a city and also serve
as an alternative solution to issues regarding the lake.
 Scholastic Paradise: Philippine School for Children with Multiple Disabilities

Applying Design Sensibility towards a Conducive Learning Environment

Magda Mostafa once said “Architecture should be responsible for catering

environment that accommodates the needs of every user; special needs individuals
should not be exempt.”

Every child is deserving of good education. However, not all schools can
accommodate anyone because there are some who will need special attention, just like
those who have special education needs. Under RA 7277 Chapter 2 Section 12, the
state shall ensure that disabled persons are provided with adequate access to quality
education and ample opportunities to develop their skills…and also promote the
provision by learning institutions, of auxiliary services that will facilitate the learning
process for disabled persons.

The term “multiple disability’ is used in different ways in different contexts, but is
commonly connected with the basic concept of disability. Multiple disability is often
referred to as having “two or more disabilities in the same person”. Under under the
federal law known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), multiple
disability means “concomitant [simultaneous] impairments (such as intellectual
disability-blindness, intellectual disability-orthopaedic impairment), the combination of
which causes such severe educational needs that they cannot be accommodated in
special education programs solely for one of the impairments. The term does not
include deaf-blindness”. From an educational point of view, multiple disability can be
regarded as a closely interwoven network of conditions. It is not simply the sum of
various disabilities, but a structure that is complicated by the fact that its elements affect
each other in ways that are frequently obscure. Children with multiple disabilities are a
rather complicated group as it includes various combinations with respect to the
number, and profoundness of their disabilities. Although, there is always one leading
disability in every case. In the Philippines, the general classification of this category of
children is usually based on the leading disability.
 The fundamental principle of inclusive schools is that all children should learn
together, whenever possible, regardless of any difficulties or differences they may have.
The Department of Education in the Philippines has responded to this by
institutionalizing Special Education as early as the 1960’s. The Special Education
Division is tasked primarily to formulate policies, plans and programs for the preparation
of instructional materials, and the evaluation of programs in special education; conduct
researches and develop standards of programs and services for special learners; plan
prototype in-service education programs to upgrade the competencies of all support
staff directly or indirectly involved with the implementation of the programs; and
establish linkages with agencies concerned with the education and welfare of children
with special needs.

However, due to the country’s economic situation - among others, such programs
and services are still limited and are not readily available to children with special needs.
Children with disabilities are one major group for whom the right to education, equal
opportunities and right to participate in society has yet to be won in the Philippines.
Based on the latest Department of Education 2000 report, out of 80 million Filipinos,
50% are children and youth (0-24 yrs.) The SPED Division of the Department of
Education estimates that 12% of the children population in the country have special
needs; 2% are gifted while 10% are those with disabilities. On the projected population
of 43,303,145 children and youth (0-24 years old) for the year 2000, there were
5,196,377 children with special needs. However, of the 5,196,377 CSNs only 2.6% or
136,523 were provided with appropriate educational service while 97.4% or 5,059,854
did not receive appropriate educational services for school year 2002-2003.
Furthermore, of the 136,523 children with special needs enrolled in schools: 69,888
(51.19%) were mentally gifted/ fast learners and 66,635 (48.81%) had disabilities.
(Note: National statistical data on SY; 2003-2004 has yet to be consolidated.)

In the Philippines, there are a total of 2105 schools offering SPED programs:

􀂾 4 National Special Schools

􀂾 450 private special schools

􀂾 147 recognized Special Education Centers

􀂾 1504 Regular schools with SPED programs

Originally established to address the educational needs of deaf students, the

Philippine School for the Deaf (one of the four National Special Schools in the country)
now accepts children who are deaf with multi-disability (such as deaf-blind; deaf –
autistic; deaf –mentally retarded, etc.). According to Dr. Yolanda Capulong, Principal of
the Special Education unit of the school, there are a total of 760 students enrolled from
pre-school to high school levels this school year 2004-2005. Of these, 25-30 children
(between 4-12 years old) have been diagnosed to have multiple disabilities. While the
school has established curricula for its regular deaf students, major concerns for the
preparation of educational programs and support for the multi-disabled children are (1)
the lack of available culture-based assessment tools in evaluating students with multiple
disabilities; (2) the fast turn-over of qualified staff, (3) identification of specific direction in
programs. Hence, more than the lack of available technical equipments and funding, Dr.
Capulong stresses the need to prioritize these concerns.

Despite with the offering of Special Education courses in the different colleges
and universities in the Philippines since 1964, it has only been of late that regular
private schools have opened their doors to special students. In most cases, however,
they are admitted only to their special programs/classes. Mainstreaming, integration or
inclusion of special children in the regular programs, much more for those with multiple
disabilities, is not usually adapted in these schools.

Hence, Filipino parents have very little choice with regard to the education of
their special children. They either send them to public schools that offer special
education or enroll them in private special schools. The major factors that influence their
decision would often be their financial and educational status, as well as their level of
awareness of the programs accessible to their children. Sadly, special children who
have the potential to be mainstreamed or integrated in regular schools are usually
denied access not only to quality education, but also to develop emotionally and acquire
social skills in regular schools.
 Based on those facts, establishing a school for children with multiple disabilities
is needed to help them develop, learn, succeed in school and other settings and
achieve results relative to their condition while adopting design sensibility. Different
related facilities, as well as architectural solution applicable for each type of disabilities
whether intellectual disability-blindness, intellectual disability-orthopaedic impairment or
other multiple disabilities must be considered to develop a concept of inclusion. Also, a
school with a facility for leisure, therapy facilities integrated with their medical needs
must be provided too. Through this, it will not just cater the educational needs of the
children with multiple disability but also give them an adequate medical assistance and
a chance to experience leisure activities. This project will mark a turning point for
inclusion of people with disabilities in the lives of their societies.
 Rizal Technological University
College of Engineering and Industrial Technology

THESIS TITLE PROPOSAL

PREPARED BY
VIVAR, CHRISTDEL A.

CEIT-01-902P

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN 9

SUBMITTED BY
AR. JOSEPH PERFECTO REA