ELISII CAMPI: REDEVELOPMENT OF CANIGAO ISLAND RESORT IN MATALOM

LEYTE

A Design Thesis
Presented to the Faculty of the
College of Architecture and Allied Discipline
Tacloban City

In Partial Fulfilment
of the Requirements for the Degree
Bachelor of Science in Architecture

ENA VICTORIA A. YUTANGCO

GEORGETTE T. PAMOGAS
LAVINA A. TOLIBAS
BSAR 5-E

October 2019
 PART 1

INTRODUCTION

1.0 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Island resorts have come a long way from the olden days when resorts were small

and modest in size and luxury. According to Malabay (n.d.), historically, ancient Romans

created a public leisure facility known as baths that could be used by both men and women

separately. Gradually, the baths evolved from their modest structure to include more

extravagant facilities. Evidence of hotels and hospitality industry have been recorded as far

back as biblical times when Mary and Joseph arrived in Bethlehem during the census. The

first hotels were nothing more than private homes opened to the public (SAGO ltd., 2013).

The nineteenth century saw the development of exclusive resort facilities offering

more privacy to the visitors. The wealthy people wished for private resort facilities and

Switzerland’s resort industry realized the lucrative business prospects of this idea. The first

resorts are created in Virginia and New York. Soon afterward, the concept of beach resorts

became immensely popular. The sea became a great place of recreation and beautiful beach

resorts mushroomed all over North America and the Carribean (Malabay, n.d.).

Many island nations depend on tourism and upswing in worldwide tourism can only

mean good news on the economic front in small, tourism-dependent island countries (Ashe,

2005). Hence, the more tourists that visit small island countries, there is pressure to develop

more resources to meet the increased demand. Most of these island nations comprise of

small islands with a very fragile environment (Jamal, 2007).

 Philippines’ resort varies from place to place and what it may offer. But nowadays,

resorts also vary from what people need. People from overcrowded urban areas are

attracted by the relaxing and intact landscape of resorts. With this given, different Local

Government Units (LGUs) in the Philippines invest in hotels and resort projects resulting

to increase in the number of resorts in the Philippines. But thinking about how resorts can

evolve into something that will give new experience cannot be ignored (Malabay, n.d.).

Matalom is a coastal municipality in the province of Leyte (PhilAtlas, n.d.). The

town comprises only a small percentage of land area on a regional scale but is endowed

with disproportionately rich diversity of flora and fauna; heart-seizing scenic beauty;

diverse culture; ethnic etiquettes. The town has a few tourist spots such as the Karap-agan

falls, Hitoog cave and the Canigao Island Resort. It also has numerous of-class food spots

and restaurants that are famous for their seafood delicacies (Pamogas, 2019). Matalom also

has an adequate size of both wet and dry market that cater both local and non-local town

folks. Among these tourist spots, the town has its own pride and joy- the Canigao Island

Resort.

Canigao Island Resort is an island in Leyte under the legal jurisdiction of Matalom

Leyte. It is also an uninhabited tear-shaped island that has a size of an islet compared to

other famous island resorts in the country. It is a 15-minute banca ride away from the

town’s mainland. There is an old but is still a functioning lighthouse that is treated as the

only significant man-made structure in the island (WordPress, 2012). There is also a small

market in the island that serves different kinds of fish, shellfish and seaweeds in the wet

area of the market and different dry good in the dry market. There is an informal basketball

area as well as an area for beach volleyball. In the whole island, there is only one female
toilet and bath beside the male’s toilet and bath that both have 5 cubicles inside (Pamogas,

2019). According to the resort’s manager, the island currently has 10 cottages, 5 huts and

2 concrete rooms for accommodation. There is also a one-storey office with a small store

attached to its side and a wooden bunkhouse for the utilities and staffs who stays in the

island (Pamogas, 2019).

In terms of its natural resources, the Canigao Island Resort has an area for huge

tress and different wild plants to grow naturally and abundantly. It embraces a larger scope

of land compared to the area where the structures were built (Pamogas, 2019). The island

has a tropical climate which is similar to that found in other areas of Philippine islands.

The beaches have white sand, with tropical sea creatures and extensive coral reef in the

surrounding waters. Although, the western and northern part of the island is under

protection control as a sanctuary resulting to the limit of swimming, diving, fishing,

snorkeling and boating (Sarkis, 2017). Despite its limitation by law, the LGU decided to

help the island-goers appreciate the beauty of the island more by creating a fish-feeding

area along the sanctuary premises. During low tides, a sandbar appears at the eastern part

of the island. In the forest area along the rear part of the island, it is a good spot for people

who likes camping and enjoys island life more when calm and quite (Pamogas, 2019).

The island serves both the local townsfolks and the foreign through offering

nature’s finest sights. With this, the Canigao Island Resort serves as a major source of the

town’s income. (Pamogas, 2019). The acting Tourism Officer of the town said that it needs

new accommodations as its demand is increasing rapidly. Local and foreign tourists’ arrival

demands urgent hotel accommodations though the people in charge of the island still want

to conserve their natural resources. The most common problem in the island includes
limited availability of the cottages, lack of clean water, inadequate electricity, non-existent

of a clinic within the island and the unattended proper disposal of garbage (Pamogas,

2019). With these problems in hand, the researchers propose to improve a portion of the

island for the construction of new structures, facilities and amenities with the use of modern

innovations which they believe that might help in solving these issues.

For the development to be placed, a huge change within the island is inevitable- the

use of more buildable land area. One of the primary challenges facing ecotourism

management is to establish a profitable and ecologically sustainable industry, while

simultaneously achieving a satisfying experience for visitors (Elsevier Ltd., 2004).

Canigao, being an island of small size but filled with flora of different kinds and sizes, the

researchers propose to also have a rehabilitation of the existing forest and providing a

mangrove reserve area. Rehabilitating the forest will help lessen the carbon emission of the

place. It will be up to use as a camping site, area for recreation and relaxation. The forest

will serve as the breathing lung of the island. The mangrove reserve on the other hand will

promote a sustainable design solution to different inevitable natural phenomena. It will

help in enriching the sea biodiversity of the island especially in the area protected by law

or commonly known as sanctuary.

The researchers have come up with a proposal that will take the island resort into a

higher level of design- a combination of accommodation structures, leisure amenities,

function halls, camping sites, and landscape that will contribute to the eco-tourism of

Matalom Leyte and also the socio-economic condition of the city. The town has

experienced economic growth, evidenced by the presence of tourist destinations such as

waterfalls, caves, commercial banks, a variety of restaurants, Spanish-colonial old

structures and the Canigao Island Resort (Pamogas, 2019). Because of technological

progress and the advancement of construction in sustainable building and resort designing,

thorough research will be needed.

The proposal ELISII CAMPI: Redevelopment of Canigao Island Resort in Matalom

Leyte will be located on an island within the jurisdiction of the town of Matalom. As stated,

the Canigao Island Resort serves as the main source of income in the town, the research

seeks to enhance the existing amenities and facilities the island resort is currently offering.

It will give job opportunities for the unemployed people of the town and those tourism-

related graduates or professionals. The researchers believe that a chance to redevelop the

island resort in Matalom Leyte through innovative and sustainable approaches will highly

attract tourists and will improve the local economy and tourism industry of the town.

One of the purpose of the research paper is to study the doctrine and standard for

the preparation of a sustainable island resort. Also, to contribute to the redevelopment of

not just the social but economic status of Matalom Leyte through the evolution of Canigao

Island Resort. This research aims to identify the practices, policies and institutional forms

used in developing tourism consisting of resorts in public lands on uninhabited islands.

This paper will give recommendations to encourage investors, businessmen and capital to

invest in such projects or projects relating to it. Consequently, the researchers will limit the

proposal in the town of Matalom.

1.1 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The purpose of the study is to find a suitable and sustainable approach to the

existing problems in the island. To aims in the design formulation, the research study

specifically aims to:

1. To determine the necessary amenities and facilities needed in redeveloping the

island as Canigao Island Beach Resort.

2. To determine what are the laws relevant in redeveloping the island as Canigao

Island Beach Resort.

3. To know how to preserve the beauty of the Canigao Island and how to make it more

desirable to attract more tourist.

4. To determine innovative methods in achieving a sustainable design and

management solution suitable for human habitation and existing biodiversity in

Canigao Island.

5. The main objective of the study is to determine a suitable and sustainable design

approach in redeveloping the Canigao Island Beach Resort that can accommodate

the needs and demands and also optimize the living experience of the tourist with

the locals and nature without inflicting further damage to the existing biodiversity

within the island and its surrounding waters.

1.2 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The town of Matalom is one of the few towns in Leyte that has inviting tourist

destinations. The Canigao Island Resort has been the major source of income in the town
over the years. This study will help raise the economy of the town by enhancing the services

of the island and its different types of accommodations. This will also help raise awareness

and promote sustainable design solutions to lessen the impact of carbon footprints by

engaging an innovative but sustainable design approaches. Furthermore, with these

changes and increase in tourism, it will help provide more job opportunities for the people

of Canigao.

The research study also focuses to promote the innovative and sustainable design

approaches and construction of the buildings. Sustainable design approaches are identified

to be environmentally friendly and considers nature resources as part of the design. It

reduce or completely eliminate negative environmental impacts through thoughtful

designs. Specifically, the outcome of the study will be significant to the following:

To the Society. One of the direct recipients of the output of the research study is

the general public itself. It will spark an interest in learning the importance of using

sustainable design approaches.

To the Government/LGU’s. The outcome of the research study will benefit the

local government involved. There are professionals and groups of people who are

authorized in promoting the sustainable design solutions. This would also serve as the

significance of the redevelopment of Canigao Island Resort in Matalom Leyte.

To the Researchers and Scientist. The research study of the redevelopment of

Canigao Island Resort using an innovative and sustainable design approaches can become

an inspiration for present researchers and to the aspiring ones to pursue studies regarding

natural sciences, marine biology, forestry research and modern but sustainable innovations.
 To the Architects. The research study will be significant to planners and designers

especially to those who find interest in designing structures that promote awareness and

knowledge towards modern innovations that are self-sustaining. Furthermore, this research

study can be used as a reference tool for the architects to obtain important planning and

design considerations regarding island beach resorts or any projects related to it.

To the Architecture students. This research study will serve as a guide in

replanning and redesigning an island beach resort or any associated projects and may as

well serve as a reference source in their future thesis research writing and applications.

This may also serve as an inspiration to them as future designers and planners.

To the Students in General. One of the direct recipients of the output of the

research study are students with special requirements related to natural sciences, marine

biology and forestry research.

1.3 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PROJECT

The proposed thesis project will contribute to the progress of the economic, touristic, socio

stat of the Municipality of Matalom, Leyte through innovation of resort redesigning is one

way to see the proposal. By not only focusing on the tourism and economic growth, the

project will improve how innovative and sustainable approaches design resorts can greatly

contribute to the environment. The proposed thesis project will help to eradicate pollution

to the surrounding environment through innovative methods. Specifically, the outcome of

the project will be significant to the following:

 To the Society. The proposal will accommodate the increasing demands of the

target end-users. Furthermore, it will increase the economy of Matalom Leyte, hence,

having enough or more than enough budget for future redevelopment, development or other

programs of the local government. . Also with the project in hand, there’s always a

possibility that it can give jobs to those people around the site that needs it.

To the Government/LGU’s. The tourism of the municipality will improve and

along with it the growth of development of infrastructure because of the increased

generation of tax revenue.

To the Researchers and Scientist. The researcher can prove that the project does

not only care for the tourism but also care for the environment through extensive research

and identifying new technologies to solve the problems about pollutions affecting nature.

To the Architects. The project will help give insights and tips in proposing

buildings that uses innovative and sustainable design approaches. In addition, it will also

be a great help in the enhancement of planning a resort in the Philippines evolving resorts

to the next level of designing.