AMADORA, Dionisio IV; ESCALA, Churchgillian Paulianne A.

; MORALES, Alexis

EL VUELO: A Redevelopment of the Siquijor Aerodrome into a Domestic Airport

CHAPTER 3: Research Methodology

This chapter contains the research methods with the tools and instruments the researcher used in the
creation of the study. It also presents the research environment, the research subjects and the existing site
conditions. The data gathering procedure, as well as the parameters of the study, re being tackled in this
chapter.

RESEARCH DESIGN

The researchers will be open to specific research methods throughout the study. The basic research
method used in the study is a combination of approaches, experimental and participatory; firsthand with the
proponents of the study shall be conducted. The general plan for the study will center on the condition, needs
and demand of the project. It will also focus on the Architectural aspect of the design through its concepts and
philosophy. The description is used for frequencies, averaged and other statistical calculations. Often best
approach, prior to writing research, is to conduct a survey investigation.

The researchers will utilize the descriptive method of research. This is also known as the statistical
research that will describe data and characteristics about the population of phenomenon being studied.
Descriptive research answers the questions who, what, where, when and how. Although the date description is
factual, accurate, and systematic, the research cannot be described what causes a situation. Thus, descriptive
research cannot be used to create a causal relationship, where one variable affects another.

In start, descriptive research deals with everything that can be counted and studied. But there are
always restrictions to that. There must be an impact to the lives of the people living within the vicinity. Before
the researchers start the gathering of data, identifying the problem will be the first step. It includes the
background of the problem and other things related to the study. Formulation of the objectives will be followed
to generalize specific ones, stating and studying brief programs. The researchers now will gather data that will
serve as solution to the problem. It will also satisfy the objectives formulated for the study.

The data gathered will be taken from different archive of information such as journals, books, and
electronic media. And the most important is gathering of the initial data such as research from the concerned
users of the topic, facts, historical background of the vicinity, past and present conditions. This will also include
more researches regarding possible design concept, planning, orientation and circulation of the structure. The
researcher will also include studies about some existing centers for further enlightenment of the study.

Information about the Municipality of Siquijor will be gathered to seek more convenient and appropriate
site condition, which will help identify future users and beneficiaries of the study. Observations on the existing
site will be conducted to verify existing conditions.

After gathering all the data needed in the study, it is now for the researcher to analyze possible
solutions in the study. The researchers will evaluate the data’s significance to the project, and it will be used to
form solutions to the problem. Sorting of analyzed data will follow before the preparation of the final data. More
analyzation will be conducted to identify which are the minor and major problems. From these problems, the
researchers will derive design concepts and philosophy. After all data and preliminary drawings are finalized,
appropriate requirements and computations will be derived to show feasibility of the study.

The researchers will also utilize the qualitative research method. Qualitative research on the
other hand, often has the aim of description and researchers may follow-up with examination of why the
observations exists and what the implications of the findings are. It will aim a detailed description wherein data
is in the form of words, pictures or objects. It will emerge as the study unfolds or technically, when data
gathering procedure is successfully conducted. Unstructured interview will be conducted within the study. This
is known as in depth interview. Researchers will formulate questionnaire spontaneously during the interview.
The comparability of questions asked and responses obtained may be formulated into another problem. As the
researcher gains experience during the interviews, the questions asked of the respondents changes, hence,
the type of information obtained from those interviewed at the beginning may be marked different from that
obtained from those interviewed towards the end.

The quality of data depends upon the quality of interaction and interviewer and it may vary when many
interviews are used. Yet, the results in the interview will be more appropriate for complex situations and
sensitive areas as the interviewer has the opportunity to prepare the respondent before asking sensitive
questions and to explain complex ones to respondents in person. It will be also useful for collecting in depth
information by probing. And these questions can be explained when misunderstood by the respondent.

RESEARCH ENVIRONMENT

The study will be conducted within Cebu City and the Province of Siquijor, from which most of the data
will be gathered. Frequent trips to the province and some nearby municipalities are deemed to be the most
essential for the collection of almost data in the perceptible reason that most data are coming from.

Initially, all data will be collected in those agencies, be it government and non-government that are
located in the locale. Then a trip will be made to the province of Siquijor for some interviews and other form of
data gathering as in places where the project is related.

Siquijor Island is mostly made up of limestone material and fringed by mangroves, white sandy
beaches and coral reefs. It has approximately 102 kilometers of shoreline. With the exception of relatively flat
coastal plains in Lazi and San Juan, most of the island’s interior is either hilly or mountainous. The center of
the island is elevated, the highest point of which is the Mt. Bandilaan, rising at approximately 557 meters above
sea level. 
This information regarding the province will serve as the basis of the concept of the researcher. This will give
the proposal a character of the vicinity.

Researches will be conducted within the vicinity of the site. This is to help the researchers identify all
the needed elements for the proposal. Recorded history said that during the Marcos' regime, an airstrip was
constructed purposely made for the military. As for the current status of the landing area, it still functions as an
airstrip but is now used solely for private and government aircrafts only. Smaller structures within the site are
preserved as it caters individuals and operations for the aircrafts' activities. These structures are considered to
be old, for it was constructed during 1930 and maintained until the present. The history recoded will help the
researchers view the existing aerodrome into a better airport terminal. It will help the researchers seek
perspectives and views for the redevelopment of the aerodrome.

Studies will be also held outside the site. Taking notes on the vicinity’s culture and traditions will as
these aspect will be affected in the study. Observing the traffic flow within the area will be one of the focus as it
will cause changes and rerouting when the proposal will be developed. More details will be determined as soon
as researchers observe all the activities within the vicinity.

Visitation on existing structures with same use of the proposal will be done to give researchers more
ideas on the activities that will be held within the structure. Observing the Mactan Airport in Lapu-lapu, Cebu
and the Dumagete Domestic Airport in Dumagete, Negros Occidental will be a big help to the researchers to
have ideas on the ambiance within the area. Gaining ideas regarding the aircraft activities will also guide the
resechers to the design. Library researches on aeronautic schools such as the Indiana Aerospace University in
Basak, Lapu-Lapu Cebu and in Cebu Aeronautical Technical in Lahug, Cebu City will give researchers ideas
on the scope regarding the aircraft activities especially during take-off and landing- where these factors are
important within the design section of the proposal.

RESEARCH SUBJECT AND RESPONDENTS

 Majority of the users and respondents are the residents of the province. They will all benefit the end
product of the study as this will serve as a step on the economic growth of the province. This includes the City
Mayor of Siquijor, Siquijor, the City Assessor’s Office, and the barangay captain of the site where the proposal
will be sited. These are respondents from the government and non-government officials involved with the
Municipality of Siquijor that the researchers will be focusing. Interviews will be conducted, being particular with
the province’s governor, Mr. Zaldy Villa, where he is responsible for the development of the whole Siquijor.
The mentioned officials and leaders are all liable for the development relating to the study. They shall
provide light to the development of the study, especially to the inquiry of the existing airstrip in the province.
Respondents for the application of the study are the residents within the vicinity. They shall provide insights
about the basic essentials of the design and centers in the locality.
The current workers and staff of the existing aerodrome will be also a part of the respondents. These
locals will help the researchers provide ideas on present issues within and outside of the property. This could
come up more solutions on the study as researchers includes the insights of these workers that are revolving
at the present situation of the site.

Considering the insights of the management of the exisiting aerodrome will also give good contribution
in the study. These personnel have insights and views on the betterment of the management. The researchers
will reach out to these people to have ideas on giving remedy to the current problem.

All age groups of travelers will be considered also specifically the physical challenge, in the planning
and designing of the facilities because an air transport facility must be able to serve all class of people for it will
be used by different of personnel.

RESEARCH INSTRUMENTS

The data collection methods of the study were performed through research instruments such as
statistic data, research, consultations, mappings, ocular visits and archive materials. Through these
instruments, it will foresee that the researchers shall acquire all necessary data for the justifications of the
study.

Researchers will conduct interviews on the respondents and possible users of the structure. Document
searching is another process to have papers regarding on the legality and feasibility of the study such as the
title of the land. Observation within the vicinity is also a part the study to have ideas on the physical identity of
the area.

During data gathering, respondents are also interviewed with follow-up questions for clarifications of
their response. This data is used for the qualitative part of the study, noting the respondents’ expression, tine,
and other comments. Meanwhile, in consideration of potential with language barriers, the questionnaires will be
addressed and administered in the local dialect. This includes the demographic profile of the province of
Siquijor.

RESEACH TOOLS

Some tools are used to have a success in the study. Researchers will use documents- from recent to
archive papers. Technical gadgets such as camera, video and voice recorder will be helpful for the research
conduct. These will gather all information and every detail will be filed for the documentation and confirmation
of all the data. These could also gather information about the existing site of the aerodrome, its existing
topography and current assembly of the vicinity’s road network. Questionnaires are also part of the study for
conducting interviews with the respondents. These could help researchers find answers and expanding their
minds on the main goal of the study.