UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS

COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE
ACADEMIC YEAR 2020-2021

SCIENCE, TECNOLOGY, AND SOCIETY

ACTIVITY 2: TITLE OF ACTION

Submitted to:
Prof. Crisencio M. Paner, LPT., MSc.

Submitted by:
Dela Torre, Renzz Irvin Q.
3AR3
2018116278

September 22, 2020

ISSUE: BOLSTER TRADE AND FOOD SAFETY STANDARDS

DISCUSSION:

In most countries, the concept of trading goods and resources is evident, as a result, it
boosts the growth of their economy as each individual is, in a way, helping each other, as the
famous quote states: “another man’s trash is another man’s treasure”, in this way, you can trade
out your least used goods away for other people who might need it more than you do, and vice
versa.

In the Philippines, trade is part of our culture and heritage, ever since before colonization.
Moreover, there is such a thing called “barter trading”, it was evident before in some places of
the Philippines because there is no money involved, so it was relied upon by certain civilization
in the earlier times, until the emergence of the currency system.

Furthermore, in the concept of trading, as goods such as food and resources are involved,
there must be certain safety standards to prevent harm or contamination of some sort to the
items being traded. Not to mention, since currency system is incorporated, a more strict and
proper safety measures must be implemented.

Recently, there is a rebirth of the “barter trade” culture online. Amidst the ongoing
pandemic, Filipinos use online platforms, such as Facebook, to conduct a trade, they post goods,
and resources, such as laptops, clothes, printers, blenders, and even rice and veggies, and people
who are interested to trade just comments on the post and offer what they will trade back for
that. Not to mention, safety standards is compromised, how are they sure the quality of the
product? Thus, online barter trading is very helpful, however, safety and security measures is a
must.

More importantly, trade and food safety standards must be raised, especially now as
there is an ongoing global pandemic. According to the webinar of Ar. Sarkum (Sept. 22, 2020),
zoonotic diseases spread between animals and people in many ways, such as airborne, vectors,
proximity to animals, direct contact with animals, and food borne.

In my opinion, incorporating all the Sustainability Development Goals to support and

strengthen trade and food safety standards, particularly the Zero Hunger, Good Health and Well-
Being, Clean Water and Sanitation, Affordable and Clean Energy, Responsible Consumption and
Production, Climate Action, and Life below water and on Land would greatly affect the current
standing of the Philippines amidst the pandemic.
ACTION PLAN: (I.I.I.)

• Implement Rules and Regulations in the Trading Industry

- Proper sorting of goods and resources according to classes thru labs and tests.
o Deploy experts from the medical, safety, security field, etc.

- Must present existing ownership, travel log, and sanitary records of the product.
o Cross check history, how, who, what, when, and where the product came
from. For in any instance, backtracking would be easier.

- Coordinate and provide partnerships with certain organizations, PITC, PSA, WHO,
WTO, DTI, PAO, etc. to ensure legitimacy and authorization of the law upon action
considering proper standards.
o Philippine International Trading Corporation (PITC), Philippine Statistics
Authority - Foreign Trade Statistics (PSA), World Health Organization (WHO),
and World Trade Organization (WTO) are the ones managing international
trading, where all documents must pass thru their approval.
o Department of Trade and Industry - Regional Operations Group (NICCEP)
focuses more on regional sectors of the country, and Provincial Agriculture
Office (PAO) focuses more on provincial sectors. Lastly, barangay officials must
also take part on the approval for a certain product be traded.

• Incorporate Series of Cleanliness Examination to Ensure Safety and Security of the

Product

- For foods and products, consult with WHO, FDA, etc.

o World Health Organization (WHO) must provide approval seal or certification
logs and documents for international products.
o Food and Drug Administration (FDA) must provide approval seal or
certification logs and documents for international and local products.

- For resources, proper disinfection, and sanitation check by the organization.

o Undergo specific tests per product type. Not to mention, food products must
be tested thoroughly with such precautionary measures in laboratories, and
sanitary clinics. On the other hand, material products undergo sanitary
disinfection and kept in properly sealed parcels for shipping.

- Proper facilitation to ensure products reached to traders clean and sanitized.

o Shipping organizations (Grab, Lazada, etc.) must ensure proper handling of
shipments. Couriers must undergo special training and facilitations, before
handling out products.
 • Initiate Quick Hazard Monitoring

- Quick emergency response team must be ready in any case hazard occurs.
o Furthermore, shipping couriers would act accordingly and retrieve products if
ever such instances are involved.

- Technological aid monitoring all logs, in and out of products, record all instances.
o Computer aided monitoring of all products must be logged, as in case of
emergencies, backlogging would be easier. Not to mention, link with World
Health Organization (WHO) updates for crisis such as pandemic alerts,
endemic alerts, sanitary alerts, shortage notifications, etc.

- Deploy professionals to aid sessions of workshops for lay people to understand the
essence of bolstering trade and food safety standards.
o Hold workshops for cause, with professionals of every field of organization,
encourage lay people to follow Action Plan I.I.I. so as to promote safety
standards in trade and food, especially in times where an endemic or
pandemic is on the loose.

Target Budget: 2.5 Billion PhP (budget allocated prioritizes, technological aid, building specific
laboratories, and salary for manpower)

Time Frame: 2021-2026 (4-5 years max)

ISSUE: Ensure Economic Inclusion and Social Protection to Reduce Poverty

DISCUSSION:

Inclusivity and social protection in some parts of the world are hard to attain, or in some
cases, are not even considered at all. Moreover, it impacts the diversity between races, social
status, urbanism and ruralism, rich and poor, men and women, old and young, disabled, and
abled, etc.

Such problems aids to threaten the undying case of poverty, as such people fall into lower
social status, thus their opportunities and privileges are also affected. Furthermore,
developments, such as buildings, transportation, accessibility, etc. is also affected. Thus, the
domino effect of this problem would not stop, unless acted upon strictly and seriously.

As an architecture student, the impact of the post-pandemic economic reset would be a

great opportunity to implement and plan developments that aid to promote Economic Inclusion
and Social Protection to reduce not only poverty, but also the social stigma of the lower social
class. Incorporating the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly No Poverty, Zero Hunger,
Good Health and Well-Being, Gender Equality, Reduced Inequalities, Climate Action, Peace,
Justice and Strong Institutions, and most importantly Partnerships for the Goals to act and heal
as one, and rise up together again.

ACTION PLAN: (P.P.P.) – Architecturally Based

• Promote Inclusivity and Social Protection in Placemaking.

- Educate the importance of Placemaking.

 o According to the webinar of Ar. Iderlina (Sept. 15, 2020), Placemaking is
enclosed in the middle of People, Space, and Ecology. Thus, an effective
placemaking promotes sense of belonging conviviality and sense of place, with
the cooperation of biophilia and ecological health. Resulting in social inclusion
and cohesion, empowerment and care for the place, connection to nature and
custodianship, and healthy natural cycles and ecosystem services.

- Apply inclusivity of Placemaking in developments.

o The concept of Tactical Urbanism for developments such as buildings and
transportation, Regenerative Placemaking for developments such as urban
spaces, public spaces, etc.

- Prioritize accessibility for people, at the same time, living safely in a secured
environment.

o According to the webinar of Ar. Iderlina (Sept. 15, 2020), strategic placemaking
covers large scale developments, promoting livability and life quality. Not to
mention, it incorporates walkability, green spaces, etc. considering it would
also depend on the inclusivity of the development. Thus, developments, from
the start, should prioritize inclusivity both in design and functionability.

• Provision of Building Codes and Regulations must be Implemented Strictly.

- National Building Code (PD 1096)

 o According to the webinar of Ar. Gene (Sept. 26, 2020), there are specific
codes that are violated in some developments. Not to mention, to promote
inclusivity in a development, safety and security must not be compromised.
In section VII of the code, air change rates and ceiling heights are violated the
most, thus, compromising safety and security of inclusive spaces.

- Accessibility Law (BP 344)

o Empower the disabled, incorporate accessibility in spaces. To lessen the
stigma of the lower social status, thus lessens poverty.

- Green Building Code (Referral Code PD 1096)

 o According to the webinar of Ar. Gene (Sept. 26, 2020), post-pandemic safety
measures must strictly be implemented, such as HEPA filters in air handling,
etc. to promote green and sustainable design, complementing the SDGs.
Further promote safety and security of inclusive spaces.

• Prioritize and Incorporate Economic Development Goals (EDG).

According to the webinar of Ar. Hann (Sept. 22, 2020), EDG measures for empowering the
contribution of green buildings in the fight against the pandemic.
- Relate hand in hand with Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

o According to the webinar of Ar. Hann (Sept. 22, 2020), EDGs and SDGs must
be incorporated complementary to each other. Together, a better future
would be assured if implemented properly.

- Mass spread the information about EDGs.

o With respect to the webinar of Ar. Iderlina (Sept. 15, 2020), mass spreading of
information is easy in this digital age. Implementing Digital Placemaking to
 mass spread the information about EDGs and SDGs. Together, working hand
in hand, more and more people would be enlightened, thus, inclusivity would
be empowered and contributes to end poverty.

- Work hand in hand with the Government to implement the cause.

o According to the webinar of Ar. Hann (Sept. 22, 2020), thorough planning and
selection principles, with reference to the “New ‘Dewan’ Model”, one by one,
little by little, developments would change, and therefore incorporate
designing for the inclusivity of people, and end poverty.

Target Budget: 10 Billion PhP (budget allocated prioritizes, technological aid, development
consideration, and salary for manpower)

Time Frame: 2021-2036 (10-15 years max)

REFERENCES

Ar. Gene (Sept. 26, 2020). Webinar. Safety and Security: Design Considerations.

Ar. Hann (Sept. 22, 2020). Webinar. Strategies in Green Building: Promoting Economic
Inclusivity and Social Protection.

Ar. Iderlina (Sept. 15, 2020). Webinar. Effective Placemaking to Promote Inclusivity.

Ar. Sarkum (Sept. 22, 2020). Webinar. Safety and Security Measures on Post-Pandemic.

FURTHER READING

Avu. (2018). Achieving Social and Economic Inclusivity: Tapping the Potential of Information and
Communication Technology (ICT). Retrieved 10 2, 2020, from
https://oer.avu.org/handle/123456789/703
Clothing, Footwear, and Fashion: International Trade Regulations. (n.d.). Retrieved 10 2, 2020,
from UK Trade & Investment: https://www.gov.uk/clothing-footwear-and-fashion
Disposition/Food Safety: Reportable and Foreign Animal Diseases. (n.d.). Retrieved 10 2, 2020,
from http://www.fsis.usda.gov
Food Standards Agency - Homepage. (n.d.). Retrieved 10 2, 2020, from
http://www.food.gov.uk/
Kwok, P.-l. (2017). Reformation Unfinished: Economy, Inclusivity, Authority: Reformation
Unfinished. Ecumenical Review, 69(2), 237-248. Retrieved 10 2, 2020, from
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/erev.12285
MyGFSI - Global Food Safety Initiative. (n.d.). Retrieved 10 2, 2020, from
http://www.mygfsi.com/
Niekerk, A. J. (2018). Economic inclusivity: Africa’s MDG progress and lessons for SDGs. African
Journal of Economic and Management Studies, 9(1), 101-107. Retrieved 10 2, 2020, from
https://emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/ajems-08-2017-0199/full/html
Shah, A. (n.d.). Poverty Facts and Stats — Global Issues. Retrieved 10 2, 2020, from
Globalissues.org: http://www.globalissues.org/article/26/poverty-facts-and-stats
UNICEF. (n.d.). Child protection from violence, exploitation and abuse. Retrieved 10 2, 2020,
from UNICEF: http://www.unicef.org/protection/