CHAPTER I.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

I.3.1 Research Design

This study is designed to provide a representation of feedback of the concerned individuals to
support the proposition for need of the study.
A combination of methods to derive a credible and authentic result was used by the researcher
for this study. These methods are survey, case study, interview and research of facts and figures.
Random sampling was applied in most of the method one of which is for the method of survey.
The researcher picked 50 respondents as a representation of the entire population of the concerned
individuals with the same variable that is their involvement in the Philippine maritime industry.
Moreover, the researcher also conducted a case study as a strong support to the first method
that was used, which presents empirical evidenced such as photo documentation. This method
made the researcher familiar with the spaces that is present in the current MARINA building.
I.3.2 Population Sampling
The target population of this research includes seafarers, maritime students and graduates,
MARINA employees, maritime training center owner and employees and maritime manning agency
owner and employees. Listed below are the groupings of the individuals and the number of
respondents for each group.

Table 1
Respondents grouping and population
1
2
3
4
5

Seafarers
Maritime Students / Graduates
MARINA Government Employees
Maritime Training Center Owner / Employees
Maritime Manning Agency Owner / Employees
TOTAL

36
16
4
3
3
62

I.3.3 Research Instruments

The researcher used a questionnaire that is divided into three parts for three different types
of market. The first part contained questions that are only intended to be answered by seafarers,
maritime students, graduates and others who works at sea. The questions dedicated for the first
type of market are made to know their experience as a client of the MARINA office, and to know
how the architecture of the building affects the process that they undergo every time they visit the
office. The second part of the questionnaire intends to find out the planning of training centers
based on the employees and owners feedback regarding its spaces. Since the proposed new
MARINA building will allot leasable spaces for training centers, the researcher had to know the
standard spaces that are needed for a properly planned training center. The last part of the
questionnaire is made to know the working experience of the MARINA employees in its current
building. As the main users of the building, it is of much importance to know which departments
are lacking proper spaces and planning which can highly effect the work performance of ther
MARINA employees.
The questionnaire was executed in two ways, the face-to-face survey and an online survey.
Out of the two ways of how the survey was given, a greater number of response were collected
from the face-to-face survey. It is due to a greater market present in a single setting that a greater
number of data was collected rather than a selected market through the online survey.

Apart from the questionnaire, a site visit was also conducted by the researcher. In the said
visit, the researcher personally see the spaces of the current building and made an assessment on
each in line with the proper planning of spaces. Pictures were gathered as a proof of the existing
conditions of the MARINA building which is vital in further assessments and process of this study.
CHAPTER I.4
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS AND ANALYSIS
I.4.1 Presentation of Collected Data

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Fig. 22 Masagana Superstore
The figure above shows the old function of the Parkview building as a supermarket which
was called the Masagana Superstore. This shows that the building was designed for commercial
purposes that is not in line with its current use as the MARINA office. Presently, MARINA is
renting the building with a monthly rental of PHP 3.50 million.
Case Study

Fig. 23 Faade of MARINA bldg.

Located along Taft avenue corner Kalaw St., Manila is the Parkview building, a commercial
building wherein one of its tenant is the agency of MARINA. Far from its previous use, the Parkview
building now houses the Metropolitan Trial Court, a supermarket, fast food chain and commercial
stalls. Those listed are the facilities and offices that seizes the office of MARINA therefore, like the
other tenants, limit its full potential for being an ideal working space.

Fig. 24 Along Kalaw Street

Fire exits are located on this side of the building which is not in compliance to the present
standards indicated in the Fire Code of the Philippines. Utilities and other hazardous equipment
must also be located away from the fire exits.
Figure 15 shows the congestion that happens every
day in front of the MARINA office. People who wants
to enter the premises would fall in line for bag
inspection which results to congestion that reaches
the outdoor part of the office. Outside of the office
are also full of people who stands while waiting or
smoking under the provided shed of the building,
another cause of congestion. The main door which is
the one on the left side in the picture, is not enough
for the volume of people that enters the office. This
also goes the same for the main egress of the office
which is right beside the main entrance. These two
doors are the only entry and exit points provided for
the public to use.
Fig. 25 Main entrance of MARINA
Another view of the main entrance and exit
Point of MARINA is shown in Figure 16. This
is taken from the inside part of the office.
However, another exit and entry point is
located on the right side of the lobby which
based on the researchers observation is a
space provided for commercial stalls that also
has a different entry point that is accessible
to the public. Based on the researchers
observation, the placement of this entry/exit
point adds to the congestion and security
problems of the office.

Fig. 26 Lobby of MARINA

Fig. 27 Third floor of MARINA building

On this part of the building, different diagrams and notices are being posted and placed which
implies that this area is the information area of the building. Due to improper placement and lack
of planning, this area also tends to produce congestion that starts to block the way of those who
transports from the third to the fourth floor as the stairways are located just beside the information
area.
This image above is a photo taken inside the MARINAs
Human Resource Department office. This shows a low
headroom clearance that is also present in the other areas
of the building. Low headroom clearances can produce
accidents which can result for the users of those area to
be hurt.

Fig. 28 Inside the

Administration Department

Figure 19 shows an image of the researcher while

using one of the escalator that is present
In the office, with the large volume of people that visits
the office and uses the escalator and stairs to transport
from one floor to another, the researcher find these
stairways to be insufficient therefore leads to congestion
and, if ever, serious accidents in case of fire and other
emergencies.

Fig. 29 Escalators in
MARINA office

Fig. 30 Fourth floor diagram

The figure above shows the diagram made based from the researchers observation. In order
to access the fire exits, one must first enter a big room that has been divided into the
administrations offices. This type of planning is restricted under the NBC which indicates that fire
exits must be of full access to the public and must not be inside another room. It is also in this floor
that almost all of the important offices are located which means that it is where most of the regular
employees and regular users of the office is working. A fourth floor provision for administration
office, regarding that these people are the ones who used the building the most, is improper.

Fig. 31 Manpower Development Office

Manpower Development office is located at the 5th floor of the current MARINA building.
According to MARINA, this department receives the highest number of people that they cater on a
daily basis. They were also planning to relocate this department to give way for the new authority
that was given to them by PRC/TESDA. The figure above shows the great volume of seafarers who
are waiting and processing their papers to complete their SIRB. SIRB or Seamans Book contains
the record of all the professional experiences and accreditation of every seaman.

Fig. 32 Administrators Office

The Administrators office is located on the 4th floor of the current MARINA office. This is where
the administrator, Dr. Maximo Q. Mejia Jr, took his office. As shown in the figure, the division of
tables and offices are only done by placing cabinets and tables because the office has an open type
of plan, which is ideal for commercial purposes. The placement of exhaust fans inside the office
only proves the lack of adequate ventilation in the area.

This image is taken in another department of

inside MARINA. Due to the high volume of
clients that they serve, and the lack of space,
clearances for proper seating are being
sacrificed, which can add to the agony of the
people sitting and waiting for hours.

Fig. 33 Waiting Area

Shows the lack of chairs versus the

number of the people being catered.
The flooring of this office is also
unfinished and is not suitable for an
office space that caters a large volume
of people.

Fig. 34 Located at 5th floor of MARINA

I.4.2 Need Analysis

Through the data gathered by the researcher, a need analysis was produced. From the
different methods performed, the researcher has determined all of the problems regarding space
adjacencies, physical attributes, and insufficiency and lack of other necessary spaces and facilities.
As a result, the data indicates the researcher to focus on the following matters:
- Since the root of all the problems in the process of papers is the incorrect adjacencies
of the offices inside the existing MARINA, there is a need to rearrange the offices in
the proposal so as to give way to a smooth flow of the processing of papers
- Included in the survey below is the response of the respondent seafarers that they
would very much like to have a training facility already inside the MARINA building,
and so there is a need to include new facilities that can be used for training purposes.
- Also, as discussed in the related study and the survey, processing of the documents
can take overnight with the number of seafarers that come by every day, and that
most of these seafarers are from provinces not from Metro Manila, that is why there is
a need to include affordable accommodation facilities should there be a need to stay
longer.
- As a response to the current environmental issues, there is also a need to design the
building inclined to the environment and sustainability through concepts and methods
in green architecture.
I.4.3 Qualitative or Quantitative Analysis
The purpose of this study is to provide a new building for the MARINA office that complies
with the global standards and presents a better way of serving the people. The following charts
depict the data gathered based from the survey provided by the researcher.

RESPONDENT'S AGE
15-20 y.o

21-30 y.o

31-40 y.o

41-50 y.o

51-60 y.o

4% 4%
19%

35%

38%

Fig. 35 - Age

GENDER
Male

Female

4%

96%

Fig. 36- Gender

RESPONDENT'S ADDRESS
Living w/in Metro Manila

Living outside Metro Manila

39%

61%

Fig. 37- Address

The respondents age are divided into five age brackets wherein majority of them ages 21-30
years old followed by 15-20 years old and a very high percentage of male respondents wherein
most of are living within Metro Manila.

RATINGS FOR THE CURRENT MARINA BUILDING

90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Air Ventilation

Adjacency of Spaces

Parking Space

Security

Organization of lines

Enoguh entry/exit points

Maintenance of facilities

Fig. 38 - Respondents rating

Based from their experiences in visiting the current MARINA building, the respondents were
able to give a rating on the following criteria. The criteria given were a way to know how well the
MARINA office was able to provide the proper security, comfort, spaces and facilities to the people
they are serving.
As shown from the data above, it is very clear to that the respondents have a high rating for
the security inside the MARINA office. This indicates that they are comfortably safe while inside the

office. Second highest rating was the organization of lines wherein the respondents were asked if
they find are satisfied on how the MARINA handles the long lines in the processing of the
respondents concerns. Maintenance of facilities was third in rank with the highest rating, the
respondents were asked on this part if they see all facilities in its good working condition as they
visit the office. It is followed by the criteria for enough provision of entry and exit points, this criteria
was asked to know if there are any congestions in the entry and exit points of the office which can
lead into serious problems. On the other hand, out of the seven criteria, three of which are given
a rating that is below fifty percent. These are adjacency of spaces wherein the respondents were
asked if they see a reasonable placement of offices as a person who processes papers which
includes going to different offices. Second least and also below fifty percent is air ventilation,
respondents were asked if they feel comfortable while inside the office or if they find it too hot
which is not good in serving clients. Lastly, rating below thirty percent is the parking space, wherein
respondents were asked if they find enough parking spaces provided by the MARINA office and if
it is well-secured.

During your visit,

how many hours do you stay at the office?
More than 24 hours

12-24 hours

6-12 hours

Less than 6 hours

5%0%

55%

40%

Fig. 39 Hours the respondents consume while at the office

Majority of the respondents say that during their visit in the MARINA office, they were able
to consume less than six hours inside the office while waiting or reporting for any update on their
concerns. Forty percent of the respondents somehow says that they are able to consume atleast
six to twelve hours as they visit the office which is already quite a long time. However, some
respondents told the researchers that there are times wherein they experience to wait more than
a day before all their concerns are properly processed.

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While waiting,
Where do you like/ or usually stay?
Waiting Lobby

Canteen/ Food Stores

Parking Area/ Outdoor areas

Along the corridors

9%
14%

14%

63%

Fig. 40 Pulse on the most comfortable place to wait

A large percentage of the respondents seems to agree that as they wait, they usually or
would glad to stay at the offices waiting lobby so that they would also be able to know if their
names are already being called for the next step of processing. There is a tie between
canteen/food stores and parking/outdoor areas as the place where the respondents would like to
wait while they are being catered by the office. Least place for the respondents to stay at while
waiting showed to be along the corridors wherein according to them, they find it improper as it
cause congestion in any area of the office.

If training facilities will be provided in the

new MARINA center, will you avail their
training programs?
Yes

No

33%

67%

Fig. 41 - Provision of training facilities

It would be very vital in this study to know whether seafarers and everyone that is in the
maritime industry will be interested of applying for trainings if there will be proper training facilities
in the proposed new MARINA center. Based from the data above, majority of the respondents are
willing to shift and undergo training programs in a structure that will design the proper types of
facilities.

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Will you undergo training programs in the

training centers located inside the MARINA
office?
Yes

No

36%

64%

Fig. 42 - Seafarers pulse on training under MARINA

Similar in fig. 28 , the respondents also showed a high rate that they agree if there would be
training centers located in the proposed MARINA office as most of them want a one-stop building
for all their training matters. They showed a positive feedback in being a possible market for the
training centers that will be leasing in the proposed MARINA office.

If no, then why?

Category 1

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

Affordability/ Price

Location/Convenience

Incomplete/ limited facilities

Few training centers to choose from

100%

Fig. 43 - Seafarers pulse on training

As some respondents are not interested for in registering, showed above are the reasons for
their response wherein most say that if training centers will be leasing under the MARINA office,
it would be of high possibility that prices for enrolling in training programs will increase. However,
it also showed that they see a limited facility in the current MARINA office that is why they would
prefer to enrol to the training centers that are well-equipped in giving trainings and seminars.

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CHAPTER I.5

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

1.5.1 Conclusions
With the basis of the findings and data gathered above, the following conclusions
were derived:
1.5.1.1 based on the analysis and data collected from the previous chapters, there is a need for
creating the proposal due to the following reasons:
1.5.1.1.1 The ballooning amount of MARINAs leasing fee for its office space shows the
practicality and the high need of the department to have its own office building that is dully
designed to fit office works and properly serve its clients.
1.5.1.1.2 Most of the clients of MARINA are seafarers who travels to different places in order to
complete their trainings and certificates, the clients however would like to have a structure that
could provide a complete training facility for them that would also be near to the main office of
MARINA.
1.5.1.1.3 Since MARINA is only leasing a part of an old department store, therefore is only
suitable for commercial purposes and not for office use that the department needs.
1.5.1.1.4 With the new authority given to MARINA, in facilitating licensure exams, it is therefore
greatly needed to produce examination rooms under MARINA in order to execute their authority
properly.
1.5.1.1.5 Since, Philippines ranks first as the country with the highest number of seafarers that is
being deployed throughout the globe, provision and support of the government for proper
facilities and services must be improved and must also comply the international standards.
1.5.1.1.6 The inclusion of training facilities and leasable spaces for manning agencies will be
beneficial to both MARINA and its clients.
1.5.1.2 In general, there is no architectural provision that functions correctly as a department of
the government that shall serve the marine sector of the Philippines.
1.5.1.3 A stacking design in a government office is not advisable since most of the people are
processing papers requiring them to transfer to different rooms.
1.5.2 Recommendations
Based on all the data gathered and conclusions given, is highly recommended that
there be a major replanning and rearranging of the spaces inside the existing MARINA according
to its function. Also, it is recommended that each office be studied individually. The behavioural
analyses of each office involved in processing papers are of course different from each other, and
therefore require different sets and sizes of spaces. A study on the internal circulation of each office
is recommended aside from studying the correct sequence of these offices that would offer a much
smoother flow in terms of paper processing.
Also, backed up by the survey, it is recommended that there be an accommodation
facility for the target users/seafarers and so a capsule hotel is proposed. As another
recommendation, there are other facilities that offer the same function as a capsule hotel does It
is recommended by the researcher that these be studied and compared with the capsule hotel so
as to determine which would be more ideal in terms of cost and practicality.
There are also other methods in determining the spaces required other than a survey
and a case study. An interview with a person highly familiar with the system, organizational chart,
and circulation of the spaces would be greatly ideal but since due to time constraint of the
requirements of setting an interview with the head of MARINA, the researcher was not able to

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conduct an interview. And so it is recommended by the researcher that requests such as these be
submitted prior, by months, so that these requests can be duly noted and processed by the proper
personnel leading to a successful interview.

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