i

CIVIL ENGINEERING PRACTICE AT THE

CONSTRUCTION SITE OF SM CENTER ORMOC

A Field Practice Manuscript

presented to the Faculty of the
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Visayas State University
Baybay City

In partial fulfillment
of the requirements for the degree of
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN CIVIL ENGINEERING

TRACY O. BATION
June 2018
 ii

TRANSMITTAL

The undergraduate field practice manuscript attached hereto entitled CIVIL

ENGINEERING PRACTICE AT THE CONSTRUCTION SITE OF SM

CENTER ORMOC, prepared and submitted by TRACY O. BATION in partial

fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN CIVIL

ENGINEERING is hereby accepted.

MANOLO B. LORETO
Adviser

______________________
Date

Accepted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of BACHELOR

OF SCIENCE IN CIVIL ENGINEERING.

EPIFANIA G. LORETO
Department Head

_____________________
Date
 iii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The student would like to express her greatest and heartfelt gratitude to the

following people who have inspired and helped her in the completion of this narrative

report.

To the faculty, Engr. Marcelo T. Abrera, Jr., Engr. Gladys G. Doydora,

Engr. Andy Phil D. Cortes, Engr. Dindo Sacay, Engr. Gerald P. Gogo and to the

Department Head, Engr. Epifania G. Loreto for imparting their knowledge, life

lessons, and practical experiences.

To the OJT student coordinator, Engr. Paul Jerome T. Gonzales for

imparting practical knowledge and experiences, and for helping the student search for

a company for the field practice. The student will forever be thankful.

To Engr. Edel Rodriguez and Engr. April Balaguer, alumni of the

department, for helping the student gain access to the company for the student’s field

practice, and also for guiding and imparting knowledge during the field practice.

To Engr. Wilson Yu, the owner Sonyu Construction Corporation, Engr.

Franco V. Junasa, Engr. Robbie Manawatao, Engr. Richard Lucernas, Engr.

Francis Lanchita, Engr. John Edgar de Loyola, Engr. Marco Guape Jr., Engr.

Solomon Ramos, Sir Maesar Padayao, Ma’am Cheiralyn Banzon, Sir Jessie, and

all the staff of SCC for the hospitality and for the learnings and experiences the

student was able to acquire during her field practice.

To her friends, Lanssel, Lovely, Emmylou, Filma, Kristine, Hanzel, Caren,

Elizabeth, John Paul, Eden, Patricia, Anjic, Donna, and Christian, for the love

and moral support. The friendship and memories shared will forever be treasured.
 iv

To Suzette B. Liquido, Anya Kristia O. Pabingwit, Daniela P. Manome,

Celso S. Palma Jr., Christan Daniel D. Restor, Jessie B. Corrales, Kyle Bethoven

A. Cantiga, and Robbie Jay Peñolbo for being with her through success, failures,

and removals, and for sharing with her adventures and beautiful memories.

To Paul Simon B. Olino, for being with the student through her ups and

downs, for the never ending support, and for always believing in her capabilities. The

student will forever be grateful for the love and support.

To the student’s family, Ramon R. Bation, Edisa O. Bation, Trivy O.

Bation, and Trexy O. Bation, for being her inspiration, and for the prayers,

unconditional love, and support. No words and no amount of money will be enough to

be able to repay and thank them for the effort and sacrifices they have made to

contribute in the person she has become.

Above all, the student would like to thank the Almighty God for always

giving her strength, wisdom, and guidance, and for blessing her life with people who

continuously help her strive in becoming the persong she ought to be.

This piece of work is dedicated to all of them

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Content Page

TITLE PAGE i
TRANSIMITTAL ii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT iii
TALE OF CONTENTS v
LIST OF FIGURES vii
LIST OF APPENDICES viii

CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION 1
1.1 Nature and Importance of the Field Practice 1
1.2 Objectives of the Field Practice 2
1.3 Time and Place of the Field Practice 2

CHAPTER II. WORK ACTIVITIES 3

2.1 Application Experience 3
2.2 Schedule and Timetables 4

CHAPTER III. DISCUSSION 6

3.1 The Company 6
3.1.1 Brief History 6
3.1.2 Chain of Command 6
3.1.3 Organizational Structure 7
3.1.4 The First Project 9
3.2 Practical Experiences 16
3.2.1 Office Works 16
Preparing of Daily Reports 16
Estimates 17
The Use of RFA’s, RFI’s, and Transmittals 18
Lectures 18
3.2.2 Field Works 19
Daily Toolbox Meeting 19
Soil Compaction and FDT 19
Observing Concrete Pouring 21
3.3 Problems Encountered 24
3.3.1 Adverse Weather Condition 24
 vi

3.3.2 Existing Structure Around the Site 26

3.3.3 Absentee Workers 27

CHAPTER IV. SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS 28

4.1 Summary 28
4.2 Recommendations 29

APPENDICES 30
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LIST OF FIGURES

Figure Title Page

1 Chain of Command 7
Organizational Chart of the Sonyu Construction
2 8
Corporation
3 Site Location 9

4 SMCO Ground Floor Plan 10

5 SMCO Second Floor Plan 11

6 SMCO Lower Third Floor Plan 12

7 SMCO Third Floor Plan 13

8 SMCO Roof Plan 14

9 SM Center Ormoc Perspective 15

10 PlanSwift 17

11 Toolbox Meeting 19

12a Drying of Soil Sample 20

12b Field Density Test by Sand Cone Method 21

13 Concrete Bucket 22

14 Pumpcrete 23

15 Phenolic Boards 23

16 Bentonite Strip 24

17a Condition of Site on Rainy Days 25

17b Condition of Site on Rainy Days 26

Application of shorings on deflecting walls of existing
18 27
structures
 viii

LIST OF APPENDICES

Appendix Title Page

A Pertinent Application Documents 30

B Weekly Activity Reports 38

C Certificate of Completion 49
 1

CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Nature and Importance of the Field Practice

On-the-Job Training or OJT is a part of the civil engineering curriculum where

in students are exposed to the nature of their chosen field to acquire knowledge and

skills and apply the theories learned from the academe by being connected with a civil

engineering-related company and getting involved with their actual field and office

works.

The civil engineering students undergoing OJT or internship may be called

trainees or interns. During the internship, the students are exposed in the real working

environment under the supervision of an engineer who will serve as their field

teachers. The immediate supervisors will guide the student trainee in order to acquire

more practical knowledge. They will also be the one to rate the performance of the

trainee at the end of the internship. Since civil engineering is a broad field, OJT also

expose the students to its numerous sub-disciplines such as geotechnical engineering,

environmental engineering, materials engineering, and even more.

Thus, experiences gained in the OJT is as essential to supplement the

knowledge acquired in the four walls of a classroom. It does not only give the

students an insight of their future works, but also ideas of what they may still

contribute to the construction industry. Hence, we can say that OJT is a portal that let

the students experience firsthand a little of their future as a civil engineer.

 2

1.2 Objectives of the Field Practice

Generally, the field practice was conducted to expose the author in the reality

of various field in civil engineering.

Specifically, the field practice aimed to:

1. Give the student practical experiences that will prove or disprove the

theories and principles acquired in school;

2. Gain knowledge and skills regarding the various operations, processes, and

techniques in the construction industry; and

3. Develop a sense of professionalism in dealing with different workers in the

site.

1.3 Time and Place of the Field Practice

The field practice was conducted at Sonyu Construction Corporation located at

Real Street, Ormoc City from June 6, 2017 to July 11, 2017 or an equivalent to 260

hours as required in the curriculum.

 3

CHAPTER II

WORK ACTIVITIES

2.1 Application Experience

Engr. Paul Jerome Gonzales was appointed by the department head to be the

OJT coordinator and assisted the students in the preparation for the requirements

needed for the internship such as the Memorandum of Understanding or MOU,

parental consent, and application letter (Appendix A). During the search for a possible

company, one of the alumni from VSU recommended Sonyu Construction

Corporation, where the alumnus work, to be considered as one of the student trainee’s

choices. On May 9,2017, the student personally went to the office of Sonyu

Construction Corporation located in Ormoc City to submit her resumé and application

letter. The Area Manager, Engr. Franco Junasa, required the student to submit a

parental consent and a recommendation letter from the department the soonest time

possible for evaluation. The manager also requested to read the contents of the MOU

first even without the signature of the Department Head. The student trainee

submitted all the papers needed, including the MOU, on May 11, 2017. On that day,

the area manager was out for travel so the project manager, Engr. Robbie Manawatao,

received the documents and told the student to leave a contact number and wait for

further instructions.

On May 22, 2017, the student was contacted by one of the engineers from the

company informing her that Engr. Franco approved the contents of the MOU and that

the student may now process all the requirements. For a week, the student processed

and secured all the signatures needed for the papers and enrolled in the course
 4

offering CEng 200a – On The Job Training. The student then submitted all the papers

required to the student coordinator and to the company. On June 6, 2017, the student

officially became an intern of Sonyu Construction Corporation.

2.2 Schedules and Timetables

The student started the first day of internship on June 6, 2017. One of the

intern’s first activities was to join the daily toolbox meeting in the construction site at

the SM Center project of the company, Ormoc City. The trainee was then introduced

to the engineers and the workers in the site. On the same day, she was also oriented by

one of the safety officers regarding the different safety regulations in the site. The

intern also toured the site for the first time and was able to observe concrete pouring

in one of the column footings of the project.

The trainee’s first week revolved on different office and site related activities.

One of the office works assigned was the preparation of Daily Contractor’s Report or

DCR to be submitted to the consultants of the project. The trainee also worked on the

bar bending schedule of the elevator and checked for different revisions in the

construction bulletin. On the same week, the trainee also had the chance to observe

different activities like field density test on site and concrete testing at the Department

of Public Works and Highways.

On the second week of internship, the trainee’s office works included the

Daily Manpower Report and checking for the project invoice of the sub-contractor’s

billing statement. The intern also worked on quantity scheduling of the tiles on the

SM Center project using a software called Planswift. The trainee’s on site activities

for the week involved joining the daily toolbox meeting and site documentation. On
 5

the same week, the trainee together with the Formworks Engineer visited the

warehouse to check on the newly delivered materials. The trainee also had the chance

to tour the batching plant of one of the company’s concrete mix supplier, which is

located near the warehouse. Other activities of the intern involved observation of

concrete pouring, slump test, and installation of tower crane erector.

Succeeding weekly work revolved between office works and field works.

Field works includes observation on the calibration of compressive testing machine

for proper and accurate operation; and observing series of concrete and field density

tests. On top of these works, the trainee was tasked to study the architectural plan of

the Red Planet Hotel, another project of the company located in Cebu City. She was

instructed to conduct quantity scheduling for the paint needed, derivation of the cost,

cutting list, bar bending schedule, estimate the construction materials, formworks and

concrete frames needed. This was made possible through series of lectures by the

different in-charge to come up a comprehensive knowledge.

Details of the weekly work activities is shown in Appendix B and the

Certification of Completion as issued by the company is shown in Appendix C.

 6

CHAPTER III

DISCUSSION

3.1 The Sonyu Construction Corporation

The Sonyu Construction Corporation is a newly established construction firm

owned by Engr. Wilson Yu. The SM Center Ormoc is the first project and a big break

of the Sonyu Construction Corporation. Since Sonyu is a newly established firm, it

uses the PCAB (Philippine Contractor’s Association Board) license of the New

Golden City Builders (NGCB), the Sonyu’s mother company. NGCB is an AAA

construction company and a noted contractor of SM Projects owned by Engr.

Wilson’s close friend, Manny Sy.

3.1.1 Brief History

Before the establishment of the Sonyu Construction Corporation, Engr.

Wilson Yu was known for Sonyunited Inc., a noted painting contractor in the Visayas

and in the Mindanao. The concept of establishing a firm was started by the urge of his

good friend, Mr. Manny Sy, in preparation of his son which is a graduating student of

Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering at the National University. On August 2016,

Engr. Wilson established a firm naming it Sonyu from his name himself, thus “Son

Yu.”

3.1.2 Chain of Command

The hierarchy of communication of the SMCO project is shown in Figure 1. If

the general contractor, Sonyu Construction Corporation, has informations to be

conveyed to the client, it must pass through the consultant, the D.A. Abcede &
 7

Associated, and the Abcede will be the one to contact the client. This system is

arranged to have an orderly conveyance of information.

General
Client Consultant
Contractor

Figure 1. Chain of Command

3.1.3 Organizational Structure

Every organization, like the Sonyu Construction Corporation, has its own way

of establishing a system of heirarchy for an effective and an efficient management.

For the trainee, the SCC was able to establish a well-founded organizational structure

as shown in Figure 2, since most of the staff have already worked together on a

different project before. The different departments are also supervised by different

engineers according to their specialization and experience.

Figure 2. Organizational Chart of the Sonyu Construction Corporation
8
 9

3.1.4 The First Project

The SM Center Ormoc or SMCO is the first break project of the Sonyu

Construction and owned by the SM Prime Holdings Incorporated. The three stories

shopping center is designed by the WCY Architects, Manila, costing about 400

million pesos. It has an area of 1.4 hectares and is situated at Real St., Ormoc City.

(Fig. 3) The first 2 floors of the building feature the supermarket, retail shops,

restaurants, and cinema (Fig. 4 & Fig. 5). The 3rd floor serves as the parking lot, while

the rooftop is designed with a helipad (Figs. 6-8). The perspective of the project is

shown in Figure 9.

Figure 3. Site Location

Figure 4. SMCO Ground Floor Plan
10
Figure 5. SMCO Second Floor Plan
11
Figure 6. SMCO Lower Third Floor Plan
12
Figure 7. SMCO Third Floor Plain
13
Figure 8. SMCO Roof Plan
14
Figure 9. SM Center Ormoc Perspective
15
 16

3.3 Practical Experiences

Throughout the duration of the internship in the SM Center Project of Sonyu

Construction Corporation, the student was exposed into office works and field works

which may be useful for her chosen profession as a civil engineer.

3.2.1 Office Works

Preparing of Daily Reports. During the internship, the student was exposed to

making daily reports which will be submitted to the project consultants. Two reports

are to be submitted daily, namely the DCR or Daily Contractor’s Report and DMR or

Daily Manpower’s Report. The DCR or Daily Contractor’s Report is made using

excel containing the summary of the activities done on the previous day. Aside from

the activities or work description, it contains the weather chart, the number of

manpower, the number of equipment present on site, and the issues and concerns for

the day.

The DMR or Daily Manpower’s Report is done using the aid of Auto Cad.

The paper contains the activities on site and the specific area where it will be done. It

also includes the number of manpower per activity and also the equipment and

manpower present on site.

The DCR and DMR is a good management tool learned by the trainee, that is

used to monitor, evaluate and review the progress of the project. It reflects whether

the project is in the right pace as envisioned in the schedule set by the company. It

also reflects problems encountered and interventions made as part of the project

experiences and learnings by parties involved. Such tool gave valuable experience to

the trainee on how project is to be kept monitored and evaluated on a daily progress.
 17

Estimates. Another practical experience of the student is doing estimates through the

use of available software. During the student’s internship, she was tasked to estimate

the materials to be used for the septic tank of the workers’ bunkhouse, the tiles to be

utilized for the SM Project, and the paintings costs of the Red Planet Hotel with the

use of the PlanSwift software introduced to her by one project engineer.

The software has options which makes counting, solving areas, and measuring

distances easy. All the user must do is to import the file into the software and scale it

into a certain dimension. Right then, the user can use a convenient option which will

make estimates an easier task. The student used the software in counting the tiles for

the SM project by simply importing the plan into the software. It was also used for the

paint cost estimation of the Red Planet Hotel. Results of the estimates is shown in

Figure 10 below.

Figure 10. PlanSwift

 18

The Use of RFA’s, RFI’s, and Transmittals. The student learned through this field

training a very important protocol for a better understanding and documentation

between the contractor and the designer in the real construction process. These

instruments used are the RFA’s, RFI’s, and Transmittals, pertinent papers that are

kept by the contractors as proof of their negotiations with the consultants or the

designers. Request of approval or RFA sheets are documents sent from the

contractor’s party to the designers to seek approval for their designs or whenever they

want to change some details in the plan. Request of information or RFI sheets are also

sent from the contractors to the designers, but this time to ask for necessary

information such as dimensions, elevations, or distance that are not specified on the

plan. Transmittals, on the other hand, are papers from the designers to the contractors

containing details of small revisions they have made in the plan.

The above explained papers are used by the contractors to update the plan for

any revisions and additional details. The documents are safely kept by the contractors

as a proof of legitimate negotiation for the revisions made between them and the

designers. The checking for the revision in plans is also essential in order to update

the plans and avoid mistakes in the project.

Lectures. During the intern’s on-the-job training, she was not only exposed to office

and field works but the company also conducted several lectures as additional

learnings. Some of the lectures included the making of cutting list, derivation of cost,

and topics concerning construction materials, frameworks, and concrete frames.

 19

3.2.2 Field Works

Daily Toolbox Meeting. The daily toolbox meeting is a first activity that is usually

done at 6:45 to 7:00 in the morning. Everyone in the site, including the engineers and

workers must join the daily 15-minute activity (Fig. 11). The meeting serves as a way

of open interaction between the workers and engineers. During the activity, both

parties raise concerns and different issues regarding the project that maybe answered

immediately. This is also the venue where the foreman assigns and divide the

manpower for the different activities that will be done for the day. A quick safety

reminder to all workers is also done during this short meeting or briefing.

Through this activity, the trainee learned that one powerful management

strategy is a good communication between and among all people involved. Problems

are addressed immediately and rightly. And through good communication, every one

in the project builds a team in accordance to their individual and unique capability.

Figure 11. Toolbox Meeting

Soil Compaction and Field Density Testing. Unfortunately, during the time of the

internship with the company, the SCC was still working on the foundation and ground

level part of the project. One main and essential activity for the first lift of the project
 20

is the compaction of the soil. The relative compaction of the soil in the foundation of

any project is a critical aspect in determining its stability. Also, compaction is

necessary since the backfill of the project is around 7 meters high.

To determine the degree of compaction of the soil, a field density test is

conducted (Fig. 12.a and Fig. 12.b). The method used was the standard sand cone

method conducted for every 0.5-meter lift of elevation of backfill. One new technique

that the intern learned was how quickly they determine the moisture content of the

soil. Instead of oven-drying the soil, they pour denatured alcohol to the soil and

literally burns it until the soil dries up. Right then, the moisture content can be

computed and also the relative compaction of the soil. For the project, the passing

relative compaction is 97-100 percent. If the relative compaction of the soil doesn’t

reach the stated range, they cannot proceed into the next level of backfilling thus

causing delay to the project.

Figure 12.a. Drying of the Soil Sample

 21

Figure 12.b. Field Density Test by Sand Cone Method

Observing Concrete Pouring. The intern observed concrete pouring of the different

structures of the project including the footings, columns, retaining walls, water tanks,

and tie beams. During concrete pouring, the activity either utilizes a concrete bucket

(Fig. 13) or stationary pumpcrete (Fig.14). A concrete bucket is usually used for

vertical structures such as columns and retaining walls. The bucket is lifted using a

mobile crane, tower crane, or even a backhoe. The bucket is usually manned by one

person to control the gate like mechanism at the bottom of the bucket. The pumpcrete,

on the other hand, is used on large horizontal structures such as slabs and on areas

where they cannot conduct direct pouring.

Another thing the trainee has noticed is the frustum of a pyramid shaped

footings and utilization of phenolic boards as formworks and bentonite strips in the

water tanks. The footings of the SM Center Ormoc is not shaped like any other typical

footings, but rather shaped as a frustum of a pyramid. When the intern asked one of

the engineers why the designers shaped the footing in such manner, one said that it

could possibly be for economical purposes because the strength of the typical
 22

rectangular prism footings and the frustum of a pyramid footings are most likely just

equal.

Phenolic boards shown in Figure 15 are treated ply woods used as formworks

during concrete pouring that produces a smooth finish on the surface of the concrete.

The economic advantage of using the board is that no finishing will be required and it

can be used up to a maximum of 5 times. Bentonite strip (Fig. 16), on the other hand,

is a rubber-like material placed in the cold joints during concrete pouring in the water

tanks. The strip is a solid material but liquefies when in contact with concrete thus

acting as an adhesive to avoid leakage in the water tanks.

Figure 13. Concrete Bucket

 23

Figure 14. Pumpcrete

Figure 15. Phenolic Boards

 24

Figure 16. Bentonite Strip

3.3 Problems Encountered

Problems are common in every workplace. The important thing is that

whenever a problem arises, one should be able to know how to properly handle them.

The internship activites taught the student that one great character an effective

engineer must possess is good decision making skills, especially when facing

inevitable problems.

3.3.1 Adverse Weather Condition

Unfavorable weather condition is one of the major problems that could

possibly be encountered during construction. During the trainee’s internship, the

construction of the SM Center Ormoc is at its first phase constructing from the

foundation up to the first floor of the building. Some of the activities included

backfilling and concrete pouring, activities that requires a good weather. The rainy
 25

weather caused delay on backfilling and repetitive soil compaction because field

density tests keep on failing due to high moisture content. It also made the terrain

muddy thus making the site difficult to navigate by the workers and heavy equipment

like concrete mixers and boom truck. The condition of the site after heavy rains are

shown in Figure 17.a and Figure 17.b.

Figure 17.a. Condition of site on rainy days

 26

Figure 17.b. Condition of site on rainy days

3.3.2 Existing Structures Around the Site

The location of the site is surrounded by different existing structures. This has

caused a major problem during the first phase of the construction, especially during

excavation. The excavation of soil near the structures caused some of the walls of the

existing buildings to deflect towards the site. Because of this, SCC (Sonyu

Construction Corporation) put up shoring to the walls (Fig. 18), for the meantime, to

prevent it from collapsing and assured the owners to fix it right after the construction

of the foundation and retaining walls.

 27

Figure 18. Application of shorings on deflecting walls of existing structures

3.3.3. Absentee workers

One of the problems the SCC needed to handle is how to deal with different

kind of workers. Some of the workers would make absences without rational reasons

causing delay because of lack of workers. Some would work only on holiday and be

absent the day before because of double pay. And some would even show-up at the

site whenever they want to. Because of this, the SCC implemented strict attendance

policies for the workers. One of which is that to get a double pay on holidays you

have to be also working the day before the holiday, otherwise, you only get a regular

pay on a holiday.
 28

CHAPTER IV

SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS

4.1 Summary

The internship as a whole gave the student practical experiences necessary to

supplement the learnings she acquired in the academe. The objectives of the

internship is to give the student practical experiences that will prove or disprove the

theories and principles acquired in school and to gain knowledge and skills regarding

the various operations, processes, and techniques in the construction industry. The

OJT also aims to develop the sense of professionalism of the trainee in dealing with

different workers in the site.

The student had her 260-hour internship at the SM Center Ormoc project of

the Sonyu Construction Corporation. The student gained practical experiences such as

plan reading, making of daily reports for the consultants, making a cutting list of

reinforcing bars, inspection of reinforcing bars, and supervising concrete pouring.

During the internship, the student also gained insights about concrete pouring,

installation of reinforcing bars, field density tests, soil compaction, and testing

concrete samples. The student also encountered materials utilized on-site that were

quite new to her such as spacers, bentonite strip, phenolic boards, polyethylene sheets,

and burlap sacks. The internship taught the student that problems are inevitable and

that you must be practical and wise in making decisions in order to overcome them.
 29

4.2 Recommendation

Based on the whole internship experience, the student could recommend the

following:

a.) The department should provide a list of recommended companies for the

students based on previous field practices. In this manner, it can be assured that the

next interns will gain maximum learnings and have an effective field practice

experience.

b.) The design subjects such as ‘Reinforced Concrete Design’ and ‘Steel

Design’ should be offered before the conduct of OJT of students.

c.) The students having their internship should not be afraid to ask questions in

order to gain optimum learnings.

 30

APPENDIX A

PERTINENT APPLICATION DOCUMENTS

31
32
33
34
35
36
37
 38

APPENDIX B.

WEEKLY ACTIVITY REPORTS

39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
 49

APPENDIX C.

CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION
50