ARCHITECTS PROFILE:

a. Name: Ar. Cherish Taguinod Aliguyon

b. Years of profession: 10 years in profession { 5 years freelance & 5 years
employed
c. Workplace: Firm {AT Design and Construction} locate at Greendland and
Potia Alfonso Lista
d. Other businesses aside from the profession:

A. COST- CONTROL
1. Can you give an example of how effective cost tracking tools helped prevent
budget overruns in a complex architectural project you worked on?
- importante talaga yun kasi kung hindi mo na momonitor or nachecheck
palagi kung magkano nayung nagasto mo sa isang project ang ending niyan baka
malugi ka , very effective yung mga ibang app ngayon tyaka update lang ng cost
{ expenses vs. Yung nasisingil mo and less yung mga tax or any miscellaneous fee }.

{English transcription }This is crucial because if you fail to keep track of or review
the expenditures for a project and ultimately incur losses, there are other applications
readily available that are highly effective at updating the costs (differentiating
between regular expenses, taxes, or any miscellaneous fees) to help you charge
accurately.

2. Describe a scenario where changes in project scope caused significant budget

changes. How did you handle these alterations, get approvals, and keep the project
within budget?
- pagka may changes before ka gumawa kailangan meron kayong written agreement
between the client kahit verbal pero dapat {nakakalimutan } kaya dapat written
nakasulat dun kung ano ang changes, magkano abutin ppirma si client tapos
magaagree kayong dalawa {architect- client } kasi yan yung mga dispute between
client and contractor .

[English transcription} When there are changes to be made before you proceed, it's
essential to have a written agreement in place with the client. Even if the initial
discussion is verbal, it should be documented in writing to specify what the changes
are and how much they will cost. Both the architect and the client should sign this
agreement to ensure clarity and avoid disputes between the client and the contractor.

3.In past projects, how did you maintain transparent communication with clients and
subcontractors about costs? Can you share an instance where clear communication
resolved a cost-related challenge?
-sa subcon pinapakita namin yung quota or estimate na pinagagreehan namin ng client
kasi may instances na masiyadong mataas ang cost ng subcon kunyari {painting}
pinapakita namin yung quota namin na hanggang dito lang yung budget pagkasiyahin
niyo iyon. Sa client namn syempre sasabihin mo rin kung magkano nagastos meron
kasi kaming nakahiwalaya ang supervision namin vs yung talagang material and labor
cost so nirereport namin yan
[English transcription } For subcontractors, we present the quota or estimate that we
have agreed upon with the client. There are instances where the cost of
subcontracting, for example, painting, is significantly higher, so we show our quoted
price, emphasizing that it should not exceed that budget. As for the client, we also
inform them of the actual expenses incurred. We maintain a clear separation between
our supervision costs and the true material and labor costs, which we report to the
client.

B. CASH FLOW MANAGEMENT

1. In your firm, have you employed methods to ensure timely payments from clients,
particularly in cases of overdue invoices, while preserving professional client
relationships?
2. Have you successfully negotiated client contracts and payment terms to improve
the firm's cash flow while maintaining positive client relationships?
3. How do you establish trust with your clients in the field of architecture, ensuring
they have confidence in your expertise and capabilities
- building trust sa client and always be honest, kasi kapag di ka naging honest sa
client mo magiiba ang tingin niya saiyo {dinudugas nung contractor ko } dapt alm
niya dapat ang mga presyo, mga nangyayari sa site{pero hindi lahat ex. Away ng
laborer } kasi pinagkatiwala ng client ang project na yun kas dapat less stress siya.
-workers namn sa pagbubuild ng trust , kasi kahit hindi mo bantayan yung tao dapat
gumagawa sila ibuild mo yung confidence nila dapat magtiwala ka rin na gagawin
nila yung trabaho nila kahit di ka nagbabantay.

{English trascription} Building trust with the client and always being honest is
essential because if you are not honest with your client, their perception of you may
change (as my contractor did). They should be aware of the prices and what's
happening on the construction site (although not everything, like laborer disputes), as
the client has entrusted that project to you to minimize their stress.

As for the workers, in building trust, even if you don't constantly supervise them, they
should be doing their job. You should work on building their confidence and trust in
you, knowing that they will perform their tasks even without constant oversight.

C.PRICING STRATEGY
1.Have you adjusted your pricing strategy in response to changing market conditions
and competitor pricing, ensuring your architectural services remain competitive and
profitable?

-Yes, I've periodically reviewed and adjusted my pricing strategy to stay competitive
and profitable, taking into account market conditions and competitor pricing to
provide value to my clients while sustaining my business.

2.Have you maintained transparent communication with clients regarding your pricing
structure and the services included, fostering trust and satisfaction in your client
relationships?
-Yes, clear communication about our pricing and services builds trust and satisfaction
with our clients, ensuring they know what they're getting and fostering a strong
working relationship.
PROJECT PLANNING
1. Can you provide examples of site-specific challenges you've encountered and how
you addressed them in your designs?
-Usually , some of us architect faced a site-specific challenge with a project located in
a flood-prone area, and I addressed it by elevating the building, incorporating flood-
resistant materials, and designing a resilient foundation to mitigate flood risks.

2. Are there any cost-saving strategies or design choices that can impact the overall
budget during the construction phase?
-in designing choice we consider using and energy-efficient materials and systems
that can save the client money in the long run by cutting down on energy bills and
overall building maintenance costs.

3. What key factors should be considered when conducting a feasibility study for
project planning in architecture, and how do they impact the project’s overall
success?
-usually kasi client side yan eh sila ang nagiisp kung magiging feasible unless ihired
kami na itong lot isipin mo architect kung ano ang maganda diyan ganun pero usually
and nagsasabi ng project is client so alm na niya if feasible or hindi.

[English transcription } Usually, it's on the client's side to determine if the project is
feasible or not. They are the ones considering what would work best for the lot, but
typically, it's the client who decides whether the project is feasible or not.

4. How do you evaluate and select contractors for a project? What criteria do you
consider?
- as an architect, we choose contractors by considering their track record, expertise,
credentials, financial strength, safety history, references, cost proposals,
communication skills, ability to work with the project team, contract terms, work
quality, and risk evaluation.

5. Can you explain the importance of competitive bidding in the construction

process?
-usually private entities or private projects hindi masiyadong nagbibiding pero pagka
medyo malalaking project yun, ang paglalagay ng bidding mo is dapat hindi ka
masiyadong mataas at hindi din masiyadong mababa let go mo na lang kapag di ka
nanalo sa pagbibid mo kasi mahirap namn yung grab ka ng grab ng opportunity eh
tinignan mo etu mga kalaban ko nagdadive yan less 20% so iisipin mo kaya mo bang
imaintain yung project na yun kahit malugi ka {competitive bidding is letting go kung
hindi ka nanalo dapat neutral ka lang kung magkano lang yung kaya mong ibigay na
pinakamababa hanggang du ka lang kasi business yan eh kasi ikaw ang malulugi.

{English Transcription }Usually, in private projects, there isn't much bidding

involved. However, when it comes to larger projects, the key to placing your bid is to
strike a balance between not being too high or too low. If you don't win the bid, it's
often best to let it go, as aggressively pursuing every opportunity can be risky. You
see competitors offering bids with less than a 20% margin, and you have to consider if
you can still manage the project even if you end up incurring losses. Competitive
bidding is about staying neutral and offering the lowest amount you can afford, up to
a point, because ultimately, it's a business decision, and you're the one at risk of losing
money.

Suggestions in business especially architectural firm

 Permits
 Pay your taxes promptly
 Creative side