Criteria for Site Selection
Table 4. Site Selection Criteria Weight Factor:
1 – Not important 2 – Somewhat important 3 – Important 4 – Very important 5 – Essential
Site Selection Criteria Variables Weight
Factor
Physical Characteristics of the site
Site must be in good orientation provided in terms of topography, climate and user accessibility.
5
Location of the site The site should be a compelling reason for the existence of the facility, however proximity to major transport routes and access to utilities must also be considered.
5
Inviolability of the place Many tourism facilities lacks sense of place, adventure and sacredness. The site must be explored for its natural ‘agricultural’
atmosphere that may allow guests to be in one in nature.
4
Local Community and Resources
Careful analysis of local culture is important, local people could be tapped to help in understanding the site. Furthermore, these people could help in the construction and actual operation
3
Appropriate Technology and Availability of Environmental Friendly Materials
The availability of locally available construction materials is important as importation of eco-friendly materials maybe uneconomical
4
Environmental Importance of the site
Site must have provisions in the environmental and ecological aspects in establishing the resort. There should no harm and danger in the user and the site plantation.
4
Impacts of Development Environmental and cultural impacts should be monitored during the construction and
operation phases of development allowing proactive measures to be taken to protect the site from degradation.
4
Safety and Security Site should also possess the necessary rules and regulations such as for the environment in establishing a farm resort in the selected site.
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Site Option Description
Based on the information gathered in the partial report of distribution of regional travelers in the Philippines from the Department of Tourism, Region IV-A possessed the highest growth rate of 45.72% in year of 2011. Areas under Batangas and Laguna garnered the utmost number of tourists with 98,951 and 220,768 foreign travelers, 5,625 and 1,398 overseas Filipinos, and 309,501 and 2,650,962 domestic travelers respectively. These high number of travelers can be a supplementary to the capacity of the areas mentioned as basis of establishing the farm resort.
In terms of the agricultural preference, the information was taken from a macro level by looking at the agricultural sector of Region IV-A, among the provinces in CALABARZON, Quezon shared the highest number of farms with 112.2 thousand, covering 341.4 thousand hectares of agricultural land. Batangas ranked second with 91.3 thousand farms, covering 112.2 thousand hectares, while Laguna came in third with 38.4 thousand farms, covering 62.6 thousand hectares. (Source: NSO, 1991 Census of Agriculture and Fisheries and 2002 Census of Agriculture)
Site Selection and Justification
The selection of site must rely in accordance to the most suitable criteria found for the site selection. It must consider all the appropriate zoning and classification needed to be as the selected site. In choosing the designated site, the proponent initially searched regions in which most suitable site is possible for building the farm resort and has most access to users.
The proceeding step is select out three (3) potential locations that will satisfy the criteria set above. The first process began from a macro scale going down to the micro level in choosing the selected site. The process was then followed by having a direct inquiry from the provincial capital of Laguna to help provide potential sites in accordance with the site selection criteria. In
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this part, several municipalities of Laguna were chosen from the assistant of the Planning and Development Coordinator from Sta. Cruz, Laguna. Namely these sites are Barangay Calumpang, Liliw, Barangay San Antonio, Luisiana and Baragay Suba, Majayjay.
Site A. Barangay Calumpang, Liliw, Laguna
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Site C. Barangay Suba, Majayjay, Laguna
Site Selection Criteria Site A Site B Site C
Physical Characteristics of the site 4 5 5
Location of the site 4 5 3
Inviolability of the place 3 5 5
Local Community and Resources 5 4 4
Appropriate Technology and Availability of Environmental Friendly Materials
5 4 4
Environmental Importance of the site 4 5 5
Total 25 28 26
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Site Evaluation and Analysis The Macro Setting
The agri-tourism industry emerged in the Philippines as several researches has been conducted. Considering the economic statistics across regions of the country based on the 2011
Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP), Central Luzon (Region III) and CALABARZON (Region IV-A) are the top two contributors to the agricultural sector at 13.8% and 9.5% respectively. The area of CALABARZON region is the convenient and easily accessible destination for the Manila-based tourists as Manila being the prominent passage of mass travelers of foreign and domestic tourists. The region also possessed diverse topography and varied natural attractions making the region more interesting. It is the second most densely populated region with a population density of 709.2 per square kilometers.
The Micro Setting
Among the provinces under CALABARZON region, the chosen locality of Laguna majority agreed to the site criteria needed for the proposed project. Its accessible location that is nearest to Manila and geographical features matched with the said criteria. Laguna has 60,624 hectares of alienable and disposable agricultural land. From the 24 municipalities and 6 cities under Laguna, only the upland areas were primarily chosen especially in the municipalities of Liliw, Luisiana, and Majayjay as selection for the site options.
Top Agricultural Sectors In The Philippines
Region III Central Luzon
Region IV-A CALABARZON
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Law and Ordinance Pertaining to the Site
Generally, the Department of Tourism have set rules and regulations to govern the accreditation of agri-tourism/farm. Pursuant of the provisions of Executive Order no. 292 dated July 25, 1987, otherwise known as ‘Administrative Code of 1987’ specifically title XIII, book IV thereof, the following rules and regulations are promulgated to govern accreditation of agri- tourism/farm site. Moreover, additional guidelines for designing and planning a farm resort will greater be from the necessary codes and orders such as:
Site:
P.D.1096 –The National Building Code of the Philippines P.D. 1185 –The Fire Code of the Philippines
B.P. 344 –Accessibility Law Pollution:
Pollution Control Decree of 1976 –Revised Industrial and Commercial Wastewater Permitting Rules and Regulations of 1999 amending the Permit Regulations of 1978 R.A. 8749 –Clean Air Act of 1999
Region IV-A (CALABARZON)
Cavite Laguna Barangay Laguan, Liliw Barangay Suba, Majayjay Barangay San Antonio, Luisiana selected site Based on site selection criteria
45 R.A. 9003 –Solid Waste Management Species and Habitat Protection:
R.A. 9147 –The Wildlife Conservation Act
R.A. 7586 –The National Integrated Protected Areas (NIPAS) Act Land Use Management
P.D. 1586 –The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) System and rules and regulations P.D. 1067 –The Water Code
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Zoning Certificate issued by the Municipal Planning and Development Office of Luisiana, Laguna prior to the usage and intent of the seletected site.
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Site Analysis
Barangay San Antonio, Luisiana, Laguna
Fig 26. Site location in Luisiana, Laguna
The location of the site is located in barangay San Antonio –one of the barangays which are in the outlying area of Municipality of Luisiana. The site is visibly adjacent to Cavinti-Luisiana national road. It stretches an area of 56,429 square meters or 5.6 hectares.
1.0 Present Condition
1.1 Environmental Condition
The environmental condition of the site in terms of the kinds of pollution is relatively low as manifested by the presence of dense vegetation, minimal residential household and being a temporary pasture land for pastoral animals. Due to being not a typical route and only accessed by infrequent vehicular transportation, the site in unexploited with regards noise and human intervention.
48 1.2 Land Condition
Fig 27-28. Soil Map (Left) and Land Use Map (Right) of Luisiana, Laguna
The land is undeveloped and vegetation is prominently constituted in the site with coconut and crop covers the whole surface area. The land is very arable. Luisiana soils overlay are composed of either with a clay loam or sandy clay loam surface soil texture. Luisiana soils are derived from basaltic rock and are thick, up to 200 cm deep. Usually clay loam contains a good deal of plants and supports most types of plants and crops. The soil is principally grown to coconut and crops.
1.3 Air and Water Condition
Luisiana is located in an upland area which indicates high elevation and thus, produce cool air and cold climate. The main water source of Luisiana are spring water and dug wells. The Luisiana Municipal Waterworks System (LMWS) manages the facility and supplies potable drinking water to the poblacion area and adjacent barangays.
2.0 Natural Factors
Natural forces are considered to be one the intervening factors in architectural designing. These natural factors are assumed permanent and constant in the span of the building’s lifetime, or with negligible change in a short period of time.
49 2.1 Climate
Fig 29. Climate data for Luisiana, Laguna
The climate in Luisiana is classified mostly as cold, humid and tropical. The rainfall in Luisiana is significant, with precipitation even during the driest month. The climate is considered to be Af according to the Köppen-Geiger Climate Classification. The average yearly temperature is around 26 °C (78.8°F)
Fig 30. Climate graph for Luisiana, Laguna. Precipitation is lowest in February, with an average of 64mm. In November, the precipitation reaches its peak, with an average of 405mm.
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Between the driest and wettest months, the difference in precipitation is 341 mm. The variation in annual temperature is around 3.2 °C. (Source:http://en.climate-data.org/location/20304/)
2.2 Temperature
Micro climate can be interpreted though temperature. Based on Köppen Climate Classification System, Luisiana, in general, has a tropical rainforest climate. At an average temperature of 26 °C, May is the hottest month of the year. At 23 °C on average, January is the coldest month of the year. The rainfall here averages 2769 mm.
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Fig 33. Average high and low temperature graph for Luisiana, Laguna
Fig 34 Average Rainfall graph for Luisiana, Laguna. (Source: World Weather Online)
52 2.3 Prevailing Winds
Observed average monthly wind speed ranges between 1.3 m/s to 2.9 m/s. prevailing directions are from northeast to southwest from October to Many and the opposite, southwest to northwest, from June to September.
2.4 Humidity
Due to its significant adjacency with the mountain, humidity in Luisiana is relatively higher than of urban level in lower Laguna. This is also because of the high vegetation cover –making the moisture content higher compared to the other areas. Monthly average relatively humidity ranges between 86% during April and May and 91% in October.
2.5 Sun Paths and Orientation
Sun paths with respect to site orientation are a very essential consideration on designing a farm resort and development. It will enable the research determine the positioning of resort spaces that need and do not need sunlight to keep the resort operation.
53 2.6 Wildlife and Vegetation Cover
Poultry and livestock non-domesticated species are evident in the area. Most of these live and eat in the agricultural lands. Based on the Indicative Development Plan, Luisiana has a total area of 8,096.34 hectares. Luisiana heavily rely on agriculture as their source of livelihood. It covers 7,042 hectares or 87% of the town’s total land is sued an agricultural crop land. The major crops that are planted are coconut, rice, vegetables and pandan. Inland fishery is also a source of livelihood but mainly for local consumption only. (Source: Comprehensive Land Use Plan Luisiana, Laguna 2000-2010/2030)
Fig 36-37. Vegetation. Coconut and rice paddles occupying the site.
2.7 Slope and Topography
The site is located along at the of Cavinti-Luisiana national road that occupies on a plateau 1,400 feet atop the Sierra Madre mountains. With such high elevation and cooler climate, it is considered as upland. The slope in the location ranges from 5% to 8% with a relatively flat to moderatily sloping to rolling topography.
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Fig 38-39. Slope Map of Luisiana, Laguna
The topography of Luisina is generally undulatin to rolling and with small pathces of level areas typical of dissected plateus. The site is situated at Barangay San Antonio which illustrates a slope raging from 5% to 8%. It has an average elevation of 426 meters above mean sea level and the Poblacion area is about 380 meters above sea level.
2.8 Access and Circulation
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The site can be accessed via the Cavinti-Luisiana (Luisiana-Lucban) National Road. This road stretches from the town proper of Sta. Cruz and passes though municipalities of Pagsanjan and Cavinti. The site is adjacent to the said road which indicates better accessibility for vehicular transporation. The site can also be access by provicial and municipal roads. There are three (3) access route to the site –jeepneys plying the Majayjay-Luisiana route and Sta. Cruz-Luisiana route; mini buses from Lucena passes through the town proper and going to the site.
3.0 Immediate Surroundings
3.1 Views, Vistas, and Neighboring Infrastructure
There are no significant views from the site except the Mt. Sierra Madre which acts as the backdrop of the site. Grass vegetation and rice paddies surrounds the area except for fiew structures built just across the road.
Fig 41. Panoramic view of the site with the adjacent surroundings
4.0 Utilities and General Services 4.1 Potable Water
The municipality has a self-sustained source of potable water. The level of water service in the site can be classifies as a combination of Level II or communal faucet system and Level III or
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waterorks system. The water supply from the Luisiana Municipal Waterworks System (LMWS) is being supplemented by other sources like dugwells and springs.
4.2 Electricity
In larger scale, power in Luisiana is supplied by Manila Electric Company (Meralco) which obtains power from the National Power Corporation’s Botocan Hydroelectric Power Plant and serving almost all of the residents. More than 90% of the total number of households of Luisiana has electricity.
4.3 Communication
Communication facilities are available in the municipality. The Continental Telecommunication System Inc., a franchise of PLDT provides telephone service to the town proper and the nearby barangays.
4.4 Waste Disposal and Sanitary Sewer System
The municipality has a solid wste management system which collects garbage in the poblacion and and takes them to the municipal dumpsite. Burying, open-pit dumping, composing and burning are practiced and started to operate a composting plant in Barangay San Pedro. Majority of the households in the municipality has wayer sealed type of toilet facilties. Other wastewater drainage are open canals, which also serve as rain channels. Open pit wase water is practiced for the drainage system mostly in the rural areas.
57 5.0 Cultural Factors
5.1 Traffic and Transit
There is always a light traffic in the site. Since the surrounding places are almost underdeveloped and are mostly vacant agricultural lands. There are almost none to a very few vehicles passing the road that is also adjacent to the site. The municipal hall and residential areas is just a kilometer or two away from the site which may contribute to the traffic of the Cavinti-Luisiana National road. Light and to minimal heavy vehicles passes the road near the site such as private cars, buses, trucks, jeepneys, and tricylces.
6.0 Land Use, Ownership, and Control
The site is owned by a private individual and is thoroughly assessed by the Municipal office of Luisiana to indicate correct bearings and distances.
7.1 Present Zoning of the Site
On a macro level, the site falls under the Agricultural Zone (Comprehensive Land Use Plan of Luisiana 2010) making it more feasible to the intended project. The site is also classified under the Agriculture sector by the Municipal Planning and Development Office of Luisiana, Laguna.
8.0 Ecocomic Value 8.1 Accepted Territories
The selected site is composed one large agricultural and forest land mass totaling to 56,429 square meters or 5.6 hectares. The site is bordered by a creek in the south, the adjacent national road from
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the south going to west and north, and has closing boundaries of adjacent vacant forests from the north and east.
Proposed Site Development Plan
The proposed development plans are schemed to public, semi-public, and private use accordingly.
Scheme 1
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4. ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN TRANSLATION