TECHNOLOGICAL INSTITUTE OF THE PHILIPPINES – QUEZON CITY

938 Aurora Blvd., Cubao, Quezon City

College of Engineering and Architecture

Architecture Department

A PROPOSED REDEVELOPMENT AND EXPANSION OF A FISHING PORT 

IN LAGUNA DE BAY

Submitted by:

ERICKA C. DE CLARO

ARCH42S3

   

Submitted to:

Ar. Christine Ann C. Ferraris, UAP

Research Methods for Architecture Professor

February 2023
 CHAPTER I

Introduction

The world’s population has been increasing continuously with around 8.05 billion
in the year 2023 based on the statistics provided by the United Nations (Goser &
Guirao, 2019). A large number of people causes a large amount of waste to get drained
into rivers, streams, lakes, and oceans. According to Altieri (2016) runoff from
communities carry oils and heavy metals which pollute water and concurrently leave
people sick. In addition, polluted water can kill marine wildlife along with fishermen’s
livelihood. The problem with invasive species also causes chaos to bodies of water and
the people benefitting from them. A study on marine invasive alien species by Bax,
Williamson, Aguero, Gonzales, and Geeves (2003), stated that they are a threat to
global biodiversity and effective solutions are still a long way off. 

Having all these aquatic affairs, the need for action to protect the freshwater
ecosystem and the livelihood of the fishermen benefitting from it is necessary for an
area to stay productive and economically stable. According to research conducted by
Sakai (1985), fishing ports and communities hold an important role in the use, control,
and protecting and maintaining water and its resources. It supports the fishing
community, the residents living near the port, as well as the economy of the area where
it is situated. Furthermore, fishing ports contribute to the development of the Philippine
fishing sector as they are necessary for the proper unloading, selling, storing,
processing, and delivery of fish and fish products to distant markets. A large number of
caught fish every day also poses problems as for the fact that fishes are highly
perishable and the need to solve post-harvest losses is necessary to not put the
country’s natural resources to waste (Israel & Roque, 2011). 

Background of the Study 

Laguna de Bay is the largest inland body of water in the Philippines and the third-
largest lake in Southeast Asia (Laguna Lake Development Authority, 2016). It is used as
a transport route, a source of animal feed, a venue for recreation, and a source of fish
and domestic water supply. In addition, Laguna de Bay has been a multi-use water
resource that contributes to the water-affiliated systems of the people in Laguna in the
form of irrigation water, industrial cooling water, and hydraulic power generation
(Laguna Lake Development Authority, 2022). According to an article written by PhilAtlas
(2020), there are 3,382,193 people living in the province of Laguna as of the 2020
Census of Population and Housing. Considering this, Laguna de Bay has already been
part of most of these populations’ lives; giving them livelihood and means of water
supply. 

However, due to the number of rivers and streams flowing and draining into the
lake, water quality has declined. The UN Environment Programme (2018) stated that
Laguna de Bay has dropped and scored a low C in water conditions, with heavy
phosphate and coliform loading, and a failing F for the state of fisheries, due to several
aquatic issues including overfishing and declining natural food sources. Based on the
article written by Salvatiera (2023), the findings provided by scientists from the
University of the Philippines state that the belt of communities residing around Laguna
de Bay is mostly fishermen. Residents from Laguna also admitted that their residential
waste goes straight to the lake which causes the emergence of microplastics in the
surface water.

Furthermore, the issue of knife fish, a marine invasive alien species, in Laguna
de Bay has remained unsolved until this year. According to Towers (2013), knife fish is
a freshwater species that are commonly an attraction in aquariums or oceanariums.
These are also popular among hobbyists. Knife fishes are considered a pest because
they consume plenty of endemic species such as milkfish, tilapia, and carp, leaving no
catch for local fishermen of Laguna (Jyra, 2020). 

Currently, the major existing fishing ports and harbors benefitting from the lake
are the Marinig Cabuyao Fishing Port and Park and Caingin Lake Port in Laguna, and
the Binangonan Fish Port in Rizal. All of these ports are underperforming and do not
have enough facilities to support and provide for the fishermen and the community. The
lake’s environmental affairs have remained unsolved for years, especially the issue of
invasive alien species. The Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural
Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD) under the Department of Science
and Technology in Laguna has been in continuous research to eradicate the unsolved
problems of the lake. 

However, there was just a limited number of programs that were implemented to
address the issue of the fishermen and Laguna de Bay. One is the attempt to manually
extract the invasive species in the lake by means of rewarding fishermen with 20 pesos
per each knife fish they caught (Official Gazette, 2013). However, the reward
dissemination by the government has always been taking a minimum of one month to
arrive. Another program DOST has implemented was the processing of knife fish as a
component of food. Based on the article written by Towers (2013), the Fisheries
Postharvest Division under the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in Region
IV-A has already incorporated knife fish meat as a raw material in making nuggets,
burger patties, kikiam, and siomai. But in this approach, fishermen will remain with low
income. 

Significance of the Study

Laguna de Bay is currently facing a crisis in terms of natural resources and

livelihood. Benefitting the study are the various sectors as follows:

Fishermen in Laguna de Bay, to partially revive their old source of livelihood

despite the knife fish infestation. This phenomenon has been destroying the lives of
both endemic fishes and the fishermen in Laguna. To address this issue, it is necessary
to provide them with new opportunities to acquire income by means of utilizing what the
lake has. 

Laguna Residents, to provide them with marine education and how to take care
of the natural resources that they were benefitting from. In addition, this research would
enable people residing in Laguna to have facilities to process fish caught from Laguna
de Bay.

Architects, to present them with future possibilities; without harming the nature
of indigenous people. Development and progress have repercussions for society and
the environment – and Architects have the capability to mitigate them by means of
building innovations that address the issue.

Future Researchers, this research would be a useful reference for the next
generation of researchers. It would help them know which gap should be addressed
next and which aspect of this research should be studied further.

Statement of the Problem

This research will assess the current situation of the fishermen residing near
Laguna de Bay. 

It seeks answers to the following questions:

1. What is the importance of having a developed fishing port in Laguna de Bay water?

2. What is the importance of raising the residents’ awareness about the current situation
of aquatic and marine life at Laguna?

3. How does providing small facilities to process knife fish would aid the problem of
invasive alien species infestation at Laguna de Bay?

4. How would processing knife fish provide income to residents and fishermen at
Laguna?

Project Objectives

This part of the paper contains the purpose of the researcher in conducting the
study. Specifically, these are the objectives of the project:

1. To provide a fish port for the fishermen in Laguna de Bay

2. To raise awareness about the current situation of aquatic and marine life in order to
mitigate water pollution caused by residential wastes in Laguna  

3. To provide small facilities to process knife fish for both fishermen and the residents of
Laguna
 Client

This project will be supported by the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority

(PFDA). PFDA is a controlled and government-owned corporation under the
Department of Agriculture (DA) that supports the country’s fishermen through nationally
integrated fisheries infrastructure (GOVPH, 2023). Department of Agriculture (DA) is a
government organization responsible for promoting the country’s agricultural
development through policy frameworks, public investments, and support services to
empower farmers and fishers in the Philippines. They envision a demand and
technology-driven agriculture and fisheries for a progressive and food-secure country
(Department of Agriculture, 2016). As agriculture is the top priority in 2023, the
government allotted a total proposed budget of 184.1 billion pesos. This would ensure
food security and agricultural productivity in the country (Department of Budget and
Management, 2022).

PFDA offers industry services such as the management, operations, and

development of regional commercial fish complexes in the country, the establishment of
ice plants and cold storage facilities for the benefit of the fishermen, the lease of
commercial and industrial spaces within the fish port complexes, the conduct of training
on Hazard Analysis Critical Points and Good Manufacturing Practices and on the
operation and management of fishing port or harbors, and the monitoring, compilation,
and dissemination of fishery information and statistics to contribute to the business
activities and policy formulation. 

In addition, the Authority has organized three core programs for attaining its
goals and objectives namely, the Regional Fish Ports Program, the Municipal Fish Ports
Program, and the Ice Plants and Cold Storages Program. All programs fall under their
stated mission to establish a globally competitive fishery post-harvest infrastructures,
accumulate revenue for continuous improvement of the built facilities, and satisfy the
stakeholders’ business needs with time and quality service. On the other hand, their
vision is to contribute to a progressive fisheries sector in the Philippines with the aid of
effective and sustainable post-harvest facilities and infrastructure (GOVPH, 2023). 

Scope and Limitations

The general intent of this study is to redevelop and expand an existing Fishing
Port in Laguna de Bay in order to widen its scope and benefits for its users. The port will
have several facilities including a wet market and a space for fishing activities such as a
fish landing and collection area, fish distribution area, boat parking area, net mending
area, and a fishing equipment area. A processing area will also be built in the port,
providing a wet kitchen area, dry kitchen area, frying space area, storage space area,
and a serving area or cafe to give residents and fishermen another way to make income
despite the issue of invasive alien species infestation. 

In addition, an open space for resting and relaxation will also be incorporated to
create a work and life balance for the proponents of this research. It will be composed of
a lounge area, a play area, and a food and beverage area to provide fishermen and
Laguna residents with a place that would remind them to take a break after long hours
of working around the bay. The fishing port will also feature a tourism sector catering to
local and international visitors with an open gallery and a fishing deck to build a tourism
ecosystem while raising awareness regarding the Laguna de Bay issues.

However, the proposed fishing port, its spaces, and its facilities will not directly
solve or eradicate the lake’s environmental affairs. The tourism sector and other design
configurations of the port will only provide knowledge to people about the low quality of
water in the bay. It will only give residents insight into how their actions contribute to
pollution, but it will not directly solve the problem. Additionally, the processing area will
only give people a way to make use of the knife fish as a form of income and
concurrently lessen their number in the bay. Thus, it will not singlehandedly solve the
issue of invasive alien species in the area.  
 Site Justification

SITE DESCRIPTION

Site A – Cabuyao Fish Port

Location 302 Marinig, Cabuyao, Laguna
Land Area 1,393.76 m²
Proximity to Government Offices,  Laguna de Bay (0.10km)
Residential Areas and, Support Facilities  Bantay Lawa Headquarters
(within 1km radius) (0.03km)
 Celistine Homes (0.77km)
 Maripaz Ville Subdivision (0.55km)
 Saint Joseph 8 (0.80km)
Existing Condition Serve only as a fish landing area. It has
no existing facilities to support
fishermen’s livelihood.
Mode of Transportation Accessible through either private or public
transportation (PUVs) such as bus,
jeepneys, tricycles, and motorcycles.

Site B – Binangonan Fishport

Location 915-A Sta. Ursula, Pritil, Binangonan,
1940 Rizal
Land Area 16,768.4 m²
Proximity to Government Offices,  Libis Barangay Hall (0.21km)
Residential Areas and, Support Facilities  Binangonan Municipal Hospital
(within 1km radius) (0.09km)
 Sta. Ursula Parish Church
(0.35km)
 Binangonan Public Market
(0.27km)
 Brgy. Libid (0.07km)
 Santorini States Subdivision
(0.80km)
Existing Condition The port is near Binangonan Public
Market which serves as the main public
market in the province. The site is
 relatively spacious, but it is
underperforming due to lack of facilities to
support fishermen.
Mode of Transportation Accessible through either private or public
transportation (PUVs) such as bus,
jeepneys, tricycles, and motorcycles.
Additionally, it is in proximity to several
public vehicle terminals.

Site C – Fishing Port of Perry

Location 2269 Perry, Cardona, Rizal
Land Area 49.66 m²
Proximity to Government Offices,  Cardona Municipal Hall (0.95km)
Residential Areas and, Support Facilities  Cardona Water Treatment Plant –
(within 1km radius) Intake (1km)
 Queen Mary Help of Christian
Hospital (0.40km)
 Cardona Public Market (0.90km)
 Quilizadio Residence (0.28km)
Existing Condition The port is too small to accommodate a
few Cardona fishermen. It is more like a
shed than a fishing port.
Mode of Transportation Accessible through either private or public
transportation (PUVs) such as jeepneys,
tricycles, and motorcycles.

SITE EVALUATION

A. Natural, Environmental, and Physical Factors

SITES
Cabuyao Fish Port Binangonan Fishport Fishing Port of
CRITERIA % Perry
Criteria Equivalent Criteria Equivalent Criteria Equivalent
Ranking Percentag Ranking Percentage Ranking Percentage
e
Land Area/Lot 5 4 4 5 5 2 2
Size
Accessibility 15 4 12 5 15 3 9
(Mode of
Transportation)
Soil 10 3 6 3 6 4 8
Characteristics &
Condition
Accessibility of 10 4 8 5 10 4 8
Utility and
Service Needs
(Electricity,
Water,
Communication,
Services, Waste
Management)
Vulnerabilities to 15 3 9 4 12 4 12
Natural Hazards
(Flooding, Site
Erosion,
Seismologic
Activity)
Site Drainage 5 5 5 5 5 5 5
Topography 10 5 10 5 10 5 10
Climate 10 5 10 5 10 5 10
Orientation 5 5 5 4 4 4 4
Existing 5 5 5 5 5 5 5
Vegetation
Future 10 5 10 5 10 5 10
Expansion Plan
TOTAL 10 48 84 51 92 46 83
0

B. Legal, Institution, and Administrative

SITES
CRITERIA % Cabuyao Fish Port Binangonan Fishport Fishing Port of
Perry
Criteria Equivalent Criteria Equivalent Criteria Equivalent
Ranking Percentag Ranking Percentage Ranking Percentage
e
Proper Land Use 20 4 16 5 20 3 12
and Zoning
Ease of 20 4 16 4 16 4 16
Ownership
Land Cost 30 5 30 4 24 5 30
Compatibility 5 30 5 30 4 24
with Adjacent 30
Land Use
TOTAL 100 18 92 18 90 16 82
 C. Socio-economic and Cultural Factor

SITES
CRITERIA % Cabuyao Fish Port Binangonan Fishport Fishing Port of
Perry
Criteria Equivalent Criteria Equivalent Criteria Equivalent
Ranking Percentag Ranking Percentage Ranking Percentage
e
Site Potential 10 5 10 4 8 4 8
Accessibility to 10 5 10 5 10 4 8
Major Roads
Must be within 25 4 20 5 25 4 20
Urban Scale
Must be in 30 5 30 5 30 4 24
Proximity to
Fishing
Communities
Accessibility to 10 5 10 5 10 4 8
Important
Existing Facilities
Pedestrian 15 5 15 4 12 5 15
Access and
Circulation
TOTAL 100 29 95 28 95 25 83

SITE SELECTION CATEGORIES

SITES
SITE ELEMENTS Cabuyao Fish Binangonan Fishing Port
Port Fishport of Perry
A. Natural, Environmental, 84 92 83
and Physical Factors
B. Legal, Institutional,
Administrative, and 92 90 82
Aesthetic Factor
C. Socio-economic and 95 95 83
Cultural Factor
GRAND TOTAL 90.3 92.3 82.7

SITE JUSTIFICATION
 The fishing ports in Cabuyao and Binangonan are the most optimal sites for the
proposed redevelopment and expansion among the three. In fact, they obtained the
same percentage in the socio-economic and cultural factor and almost on par in other
site evaluation sections including the natural, environmental, and physical factors, and
the legal, institution, and administrative factors. In spite of the fact that the Cabuyao
Fish Port is promising in terms of the benefits they could attain from the proposed
project, the existing site is not as reassuring as the site in Binangonan Fishport.

One major factor that affect their total percentages is the accessibility or the
possible vehicles that could access the port. Since the project aims to create a tourism
sector catering to local and foreign visitors, the importance of the site’s proximity to
terminals and public transportation hubs must not be overlooked.

Natural, Environmental, and Physical Factors

Land Area / Lot Size

The existing lot size or area of the Binangonan Fishport is 16,768.4 m² which is
already sufficient for the proposed redevelopment. On the other hand, an
additional of 5,669 m² could be allocated for the proposed expansion. With that, a
total of 22,437 m² would be available for all the future facilities, structures, and
spaces of the project.

Climate Condition

Rising freshwater temperature, water-level rise, and extreme weather events

have impact to fishermen and the fishing industry. These factors reduce the catch
and degrades the marine resources. In Binangonan, Rizal, the summers are
short but hot and the rainy seasons are short, warm, and wet. In spite of the fact
that it is not the most optimal condition for fishes and other aquatic resources to
thrive, the climate in Binangonan is better than in other fishing ports in Laguna.

Topography and Slope

 The province of Rizal is known for its mountainous regions but the existing
location of the Binangonan Fishport has no evident slope that could affect the
building and plans for redevelopment and expansion.

Soil Characteristics

The soil in Binangonan, Rizal features dark to dark brown, dark yellowish brown,
very dark greyish brown clay, clay loam or silty clay characteristics.

Vulnerabilities to Natural Hazards

Since fishing ports are needed to be built along the sea, bay, or other bodies of
water, flooding is the most common it must overcome. In addition, erosion is
usual in the province of Rizal, but it only affects some areas including the
mountainous regions of Montalban, San Mateo, Antipolo, and Baras.

Legal, Institutional, and Administrative Factors

Proper Land Use and Zoning

Land Cost

Compatibility with Adjacent Land Use

The Binangonan Fishport is located near the Binangonan Public Market which is
the main market of the residents in Binangonan. It is large enough to cater
hundreds of people which means a percentage of these hundreds of people
would visit the fish port.

Socio-economic and Cultural Factors

Site Potential

The site has the potential for providing the program and accommodation of
fishing industry and tourism development in the area. It can also generate
additional income for residents and the fishermen aside from fishing.
 Accessibility to Main Road

One consideration of building the Binangonan Public Market, which is situated

near the Binangonan Fishport, is its accessibility to main road. This factor would
ensure that the site can be visited by several people who would potentially be the
user of the proposed project.

Proximity to Fishing Communities

A factor that could make the proposed development and expansion of the
Binangonan Fishport alive is its proximity to fishing communities. Residential
houses are clustered along the Laguna de Bay and beside the existing fish port.

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