Technological University of the Philippines

College of Architecture and Fine Arts

Department of Architecture
Ayala Boulevard corner San Marcelino Street, Ermita, Manila

Architectural Design 8
Research for Baby Thesis
Proposed Eco-Tourism Leisure Park

Submitted by:
Bermudez, Elona Camille Q.
Carbon, Bernard Jr. B.
Espino, Cheska Mae Nicole M.
BSA-4C

Submitted to:
Arch. Jarina Pichay
Arch. Elpidio Balais Jr.
 Chapter 1: Introduction

The Quezon Province is southeast of Metro Manila and is bordered by the

provinces of Aurora to the north, Bulacan, Rizal, Laguna and Batangas to
the west and the provinces of Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur to the
east. Part of Quezon lies on an isthmus connecting the Bicol Peninsula to
the main part of Luzon. The province also includes the Polillo Islands in the
Philippine Sea. Some marine parts of the Verde Island Passage, the center
of the center of world's marine biodiversity, are also in the province. A major
tourism draw to the province is Mount Banahaw.

Quezon, east of Metro Manila, is the 8th largest province in the Philippines
having an area of 8,989.39 square kilometres (3,470.82 sq mi). It is the
largest province of Calabarzon, comprising 879,660 hectares or 53.21% of
the total land area of the region of this area, 513,618 hectares is categorized
as agricultural land. The northern part of the province is sandwiched between
the Sierra Madre mountain range and the Philippine Sea.

Background of the Study

In 2015, the population of the region of Calabarzon reached 14.4 million,

which exceed the population of the National Capital Region by more than
1.53 million. The region has an annual growth rate of 2.58 percent between
2010 and 2015, it is concluded that the region’s population will exceed the
number by more than double of its current number in 2042, a rate that exceed
the annual growth of the National Capital Region and the entire country of
the Philippines. The region of the Calabarzon has a population density of
888 person per square kilometer which is by far lower than the population
density of the National Capital Region that has a 20,785. This population
growth rate in the region is the outcome due to associated reason that
includes; in-migration, population momentum, relatively higher birth rate, and
increasing life expectancies.

The direction of rapid population movement was most evident towards the
highly urbanizing and industrializing areas of the region, particularly Cavite,
Laguna and Rizal. Calabarzon serves as a catch basin for Metro Manila’s
population and industry. This is reflected in the population density of Cavite
at 2,857 per square kilometer, Rizal at 2,204 per square kilometer, and
Laguna at 1,725 per square kilometer. A geospatial analysis shows that the
population of Calabarzon is centered somewhere in Laguna and is moving
towards Manila.

Until the 1970s, the region of Calabarzon is considered a predominantly rural

but in 1980s when the urbanization increased, a trend which continues

Urbanization in Calabarzon became more evident with improvements in its

infrastructure, roads, transportations and telecommunication facilities,
making the region the industrialization showcase of the Philippines. As a
result, industrial and technoparks, commercial complexes and residential
developments began to emerge with increased intensity in Calabarzon. To
date, the provinces of Rizal, Cavite and Laguna have higher percentage of
population in urban areas compared to the regional average. Thus,
Calabarzon remains to be attractive for development projects such as
residential subdivisions, sports and leisure centers, and industrial
complexes.

This urbanization causes the deterioration of the underutilized environment

as a tourism attractions. The most prominent example of this is the seven
lakes of San Pablo. The lakes are threatened by human intervention and
exploitation, most especially Lake Sampaloc, which is located right in the
center of San Pablo City. Several illegal settlements, illegal fish pens,
commercial and business infrastructures on the shores have proliferated on
some of the lakes causing increased pollution. Overuse of commercial fish
feeds have resulted in high nitrogen levels and low dissolved oxygen that
has led to fish kills in the early and late 1990s. In January 2004, fish kills
were observed in six of the seven lakes. Various ecological conservation
efforts by both government and non-government organizations, like the
Friends of the Seven Lakes Foundation, had been implemented in recent
years. One of these is the demolition of human-made structures along the
lakes' shoreline.
Statement of the Problem

The province has a total of 1,066.36 km of coastline and has several bays
including Burdeos Bay, Lamon Bay, Calauag Bay, Lopez Bay, Ragay Gulf,
Pagbilao Bay and Tayabas Bay. The Infanta Watershed has extensive and
highly productive aquifers while Mauban and Atimonan have no significant
groundwater.

The Calabarzon undergoes a rapid growth in population which brought about

this arising economy and urbanization. This rapid growth of population
means a land expansion which contributes to the deterioration of
environment. Higher population also means vast amount of goods, higher
amount of goods, higher needs for resources to sustain the market. This
reasons causes many of the exceptional areas in this province are gone to
waste.

According to the DENR, in 2003, Quezon had 231,190 hectares of forest

cover. However, due to rampant illegal logging as well as kaingin, these
forests are constantly threatened.

Thus, in order to recreate the life in Quezon Province, it’s imperative to

enhance its ecological state and tourism facilities to not only cater tourisms
but also the local community. A proposed leisure park will provide good
promotion on eco-tourism and economical welfare to the said province.

Also according to the Regional Development Plan of the Calabarzon region,

the green wedges of agri-tourism, agriculture, forests and leisure areas that
have been identified in the central and western portion of the region will act
as ecological transition areas and boundaries for various development
corridors. This transitional areas creates a continuous link between the
tourism spot in the Calabarzon region.
Goal, and Objectives

Design Goal

The design goal is to develop a Leisure park that will serve as a transitional
area in the region of calabarzon.

Design Objectives

 To provide functional and well-designed spaces.

 To design with a walkable oriented approach.
 To design with a harmonious interaction between man and the
environment.

Significance of the Study

The significance of the study varies from different related aspects. These
include impacts on environment, socio-cultural, services, taxes, community
attitude, and most importantly, its contribution to the economic development
of Calabarzon region.

Economic │ Tourism advances the country’s business sectors by providing

more jobs and a more diverse economy. A vast amount of job from low wage
entry-level to high-paying professional positions in management fields, it
generates incomes that raises the quality of life.

Environment │ Positive effect of tourism in environment is the protection it

provide to the natural environment but on the negative side of the tourism is
that, as it grows to a booming industry, the more tourist will be attracted to
its location. The tourist generates not only income but also waste and
pollution. The environment can also be at risk through improper uses and
overuse.

Socio-Cultural │ Improvements in culture are projected to increase through

increased tourism in the region. As diverse cultures interact, work, and
communicate with one another in close proximity, cultures are integrated
more smoothly. Tourism presents an opportunities to the community to
interact with foreign people, exchange in culture, and expose themselves to
a new point of view.
Services │ Tourism creates an opportunity to experience a new amenities
and recreation facilities that would be otherwise be impossible in a
community.

Taxes │ Increased activity in retails from restaurants and tourist shopping

will add start local taxes.

Community attitude │The Visitors interest and satisfaction will become the
pride towards the community of the ethnic groups.

Scope and Delimitation

The study will only cover the province of Quezon. It focuses on the
investigation on the influence of the ecological transitional area through the
development of leisure parks. The proponents will utilize the data and the
facts that will be gathered from legitimate second source like Local
Government, Agencies and other sources.

Due to the time constraints, the proponents cannot personally conduct a

survey, and interview but will utilize data gathered by second source.

Chapter 2: Reviews of Related Literature

Definition of terms

For the purpose of this study, the terms used in this study shall be defined
as follows:

a) Accreditation – a certification issued by the Department to a tourism

enterprise that officially recognizes it as having complied with the
minimum standards for the operation of tourism facilities and services.
b) “Department” refers to the Department of Tourism created pursuant to
Presidential Decree No. 189 (1973), as amended;
c) “Ecotourism” refers to a form of sustainable tourism within a natural
and cultural heritage area where community participation, protection
and management of natural resources, culture and indigenous
knowledge and practices, environmental education and ethics as well
as economic benefits are fostered and pursued for the enrichment of
host communities and satisfaction of visitors.
 d) “Foreign Visitors” refers to all passengers using foreign passports;
e) “Philippine Tourism Authority” (PTA) refers to the existing
implementation arm of the Department of Tourism created pursuant to
Presidential Decree No. 189 (1973), as amended;
f) “Sustainable Tourism Development” refers to the management of all
resources that meets the needs of tourists and host regions while
protecting the opportunities for the future, in such a way that economic,
social and aesthetic needs can be fulfilled while maintaining cultural
integrity, essential ecological processes, biological diversity and life
support systems.
g) “TIEZA” refers to the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone
Authority.
h) “Tourists” shall refer to people who travel to and stay in places outside
their usual environment for more than twenty-four (24) hours and not
more than one (1) consecutive year for leisure, business and other
purposes not related to the exercise of an activity remunerated from
within the place visited.
i) “Tourism enterprises” refers to facilities, services and attractions
involved in tourism, such as, but not limited to: travel and tour services;
tourist transport services, whether for land, sea or air transportation;
tour guides; adventure sports services involving such sports as
mountaineering, spelunking, scuba diving, and other sports activities
of significant tourism potential; convention organizers; accommodation
establishments, including, but not limited to, hotels, resorts, apartelles,
tourist inns, motels, pension houses, and home stay operators; tourism
estate management services, restaurants, shops and department
stores, sports and recreational centers, spas, museums and galleries,
theme parks, convention centers and zoos;
j) “Tourist products” can be defined as the sum of the physical and
psychological satisfaction it provides to tourists during their travelling
en route to the destination. The tourist product focuses on facilities and
services designed to meet the needs of the tourist.

Existing Local and Foreign Project

Laws, Ordinances and Codes

Presidential Decree no. 1151 otherwise known as “Philippine

Environmental Policy” states that

It is hereby declared a continuing policy of the State (a) to create,

develop, maintain and improve conditions under which man and
nature can thrive in productive and enjoyable harmony with each
other, (b) to fulfill the social, economic and other requirements of
present and future generations of Filipinos, and (c) to insure the
attainment of an environmental quality that is conducive to a life of
dignity and well-being. (Sec. 1)

Republic Act no. 9593 otherwise known as “Tourism Act of 2009”

Promote a tourism industry that is ecologically sustainable,

responsible, participative, culturally sensitive, economically viable,
and ethically and socially equitable for local communities. (Sec. 2)

Above all, the Republic Act no. 9593 also adopts the objective:

Ensuring the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology

through the promotion of activities geared towards environmental
protection, conservation and restoration (Sec. 3)

Guidelines for the Designation and Supervision of Tourism

Enterprise Zones and the Administration of Incentives under
R.A. 9593 under these guidelines the Tourism Infrastructure and
Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) provides the classification for the
proposed project.

a) Health and Wellness Tourism Zone – areas that will allow visitors
to avail of quality but affordable mainstream, traditional, or alternative
healthcare services for treatment of illnesses and health problems in
order to maintain one’s health and well-being.

The area may include, but will not be limited to enterprises that are,
or offer:

1. Medical and Allied Services;

 2. Spas;
3. Health Farms;
4. Counselling and Rehabilitation Services; and
5. Traditional Filipino Touch Therapy

b) Eco-Tourism Zone - areas that will allow visitors to experience a

form of sustainable tourism within a given natural and/or cultural area
where community participation, conservation and management of
biodiversity, respect for culture and indigenous knowledge systems
and practices, environmental education and ethics as well as
economic benefits are fostered and pursued for the enrichment of
host communities and satisfaction of visitors.

The area may include, but will not be limited to:

1. Sites of scenic natural or rural beauty;

2. Areas for observing wildlife;
3. Areas for low impact activities such as camping, trekking, climbing,
spelunking, diving, surfing, and other similar activities; and
4. Sites for observing and interacting with traditional or indigenous
practices in relation to the environment. General Leisure

c) Tourism Zone – areas that may offer recreational facilities that will
have high visitor density.

The area may include, but will not be limited to:

1. Golf Parks/Resorts;
2. Theme Parks and Amusement Centers;
3. Convention and Meeting Centers;
4. Sports Complexes/Resorts;
5. Event Centers/Resorts;
6. Department Stores/Restaurants/Shops; and;
7. Zoos

d) Mixed Use Tourism Zone – areas that will allow a combination of

some or all of the features of the aforementioned zones within one
area.
 Retirement communities and facilities duly accredited by the
Philippine Retirement Authority may be located in General Leisure
Tourism Zones, Health and Wellness Tourism Zones and Mixed-used
Tourism Zones. (Rule 1, Sec. 5)

Republic Act no. 9514 otherwise known as the “Fire Code of the
Philippines of 2008”

It is the policy of the State to ensure public safety, promote economic

development through the prevention and suppression of all kinds, of
destructive fires, and promote the professionalization of the fire
service as a profession. Towards this end, the State shall enforce all
laws, rules and regulations to ensure adherence to standard fire
prevention and safety measures, and promote accountability in the
fire protection and prevention service. (Sec. 2)

Batas Pambansa Blg. 344 known “Accessibility Law”

An act to enhance the mobility of disabled persons by requiring

certain buildings, institutions, establishments and public utilities to
install facilities and other devices.

Existing Problems
In the pursuit of the tourism vision, the National Tourism Development Plan
continues to adopt the cluster approach as a destination development
strategy in the implementation of complementing programs involving
transport networks, infrastructure projects, accommodation and recreational
facilities, human resource development, and marketing plans, all directed to
support the development of tourism destinations throughout the country.
From a physical perspective, clustering involves linking several Tourism
Development Areas (TDAs) into a logical grouping of transport networks,
natural and cultural tourism sites, as well as urban service centers that
provide facilities and amenities, all serviced by at least a primary gateway.

TDAs have the following key attributes:

Good air, sea, and road interconnected systems resulting in ease of

travelling to and within areas;
Presence of key infrastructure to support power, water, sewage/ solid waste
disposal and telecommunication requirements of the community and
expected visitors;

Sufficient supply of a range of accommodation facilities;

Restaurants, shopping, recreational and entertainment facilities; and

Day and half-day tour/sightseeing programs and activities to natural and

cultural sites.

Some of the TDAs could lack some support infrastructure to adequately meet
the requirements of both the community and expected visitors. Such
deficiencies like poor last mile access, inadequate power, lack of health and
safety facilities as well as comfortable and pleasant activities will be
addressed in this plan.

The 2016-2022 Plan has rationalized the number of TDAs from 78 to 49 so

as to provide greater focus on the relationship of adjoining clusters in order
to implement the proposed development of tourism circuits.

Travel & Tourism is an important economic activity in most countries around

the world. As well as its direct economic impact, the industry has significant
indirect and induced impacts.

The landscapes and seascapes of Laguna, Quezon, Batangas, and Rizal

make them natural sites for eco-tourism. The provinces’ tourism sites are
also supported by the strong presence of arts and crafts trades. Recently,
Balesin Island in Quezon Province has been converted into an economic
tourism zone, which is expected to contribute to the tourism economy of the
province. Additionally, some areas in the region are emerging pilgrimage
destinations.

Chapter 3: Methodology

Type of Research
The Descriptive research used in this study is a method of research used to
“describe” an events, topic, behavior, or phenomenon. This answer the
research by who, what, when, where, and how it is relevant to the problem
presented in the research. The primary description of the descriptive method
is a study that is connected to finding the “what is”. This type of research
gathers the information by quantitative form to statistically analyze a targeted
topic or specific problem regarding to the research problem. Description
research is used to observe and describe a research subject or problem
without influencing or manipulating the variables in any way. Hence, these
studies are really correlational or observational, and not truly experimental.
Descriptive research method uses a conclusive evidence of finding to clarify
or define the problem, rather than making a tentative hypothesis about the
problem.

Different Approach
The Proponent gathers the data through searching in net to clarify the
statement in study. The Proponent conduct the gathering of the data through
the collection of information from the secondary sources. These approach
helps the proponent to further understand the proposal.