CHAPTER 1

(Water Pollution Text Slide)

Water pollution, as stated by Inyinbor in 2018, has been considered a global challenge since the Industrial Revolution
in the 18th and 19th centuries.

(Water Pollution Collage Slide)

The word WATER may either mean Weakening Aquatic Treasures, Eroding Rural Livelihoods. This circumstance
affects the surface and groundwater and threatens the lives of aquatic ecosystems and the people benefitting from it.

(Water Pollution Collage Slide) - People and Boat

However, a study conducted by Michael Hawthorne of the Chicago Tribune in 2023, stated that freshwater fishes are
more prone to contamination compared to their saltwater counterparts.

(Water Pollution Collage Slide) - Wastes

This discrepancy is attributed to the fact that freshwater bodies frequently serve as the discharge points for a variety
of municipal and industrial effluents, and chemical pollutants.

(Eutrophication White Slide)

Eutrophication, characterized by the increased nutrient load in bodies of water, is recognized as a major
consequence of pollution in freshwater bodies that primarily contributes to oxygen depletion in aquatic ecosystems
due to the proliferation of

(Eutrophication Green Slide)

algal blooms, this was according to the Water Resources Mission Area in 2019.

(LAWA Text Slide)

So, good morning everyone. I am Ericka De Claro presenting my capstone title, L.A.W.A. Light Amidst Water
Adversity: Seeking Light in the Waters of Laguna de Bay Through a Fish Port Complex in Pila, Laguna

(LAWA Image Slide)

Now that I have given a brief generalized intro for my project, let's try to delve deeper and understand it more by
being more specific. So, let's go to Laguna de Bay. To give you a quick trivia with our main focus for this defense
proceeding, Laguna de Bay is the third-largest lake in Southeast Asia and the largest freshwater lake in the country
with 9,000 square meters or hectares total area which caters to 13,000 fishermen.

(Class C Slide)
Despite its Class C water classification, indicating usability for fisheries, transport, and agriculture, the lake faces
environmental challenges.

(Class D Slide)
The proliferation of water hyacinths, attributed to Class D tributary rivers like the Pasig River, highlights concerns
about the overall health of the lake.
(Quotation Slide)
Emphasizing the insights from Emiterio Hernandez, the head of the Environmental Regulatory Department of the
Laguna Lake Development Authority, reveals that securing a Class C status doesn't necessarily equate to a pristine
condition, urging a more nuanced understanding of the lake's ecological dynamics.

(Fish Port + Solution Slide)

Now, how would I address this issue of Laguna de Bay and what would my project want to achieve?

(Challenges to Opportunities Slide)

Simple, turn challenges into opportunities by utilizing an architecture development that mostly benefits from the
waters of the lake, the fish port complexes.

(Fish Port Collage Slide)

This architecture bridges or connects the people who need the lake to live and the lake who need responsible people
to live to foster an environment where people, nature, history, and economy could all flourish, transforming the
meaning of WATER to Winning Access to Thriving Economic Resources.

(Client Logo Slide)

This vision would be put into reality with the aid of the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA) and will be
funded by both the Local Government of Pila, Laguna, and the San Miguel Corporation, a private company.

(Client Contribution Slide)

Each has a significant contribution to the aspects of fish port establishment, market and agro-industrial project
construction, and eco-tourism.

CHAPTER 3

(Why / What / How Slide)

I have discussed the whys, whats, and hows of my project.

(Why / What / How Slide)

Now, let’s answer the question, where?

(Site Selection Slide)

Establishing a fish port requires specific evaluation of the site with the aid of specialized site evaluation criteria, I was
able to come up with the most suitable site for my project.

(Site Selection 1 Slide)

These criteria include the availability of aquatic resources. This specific criteria ensures that the fish port complex
would be situated in a site where fish can still grow despite the lake’s deteriorating water quality.

(Site Selection 2 Slide)

Next is its proximity to evacuation areas. This criterion was included to emphasize the site’s resiliency given the fact
that it is situated within the lakeshore.

(Site Selection 3 Slide)

This criterion is followed by another criterion, which requires the proximity of the site to social architecture, churches,
schools, and community centers, among others. These types of architecture gather tourists who would want to buy
crafted water hyacinth bags, a father who would pick up his daughter from school and would get their lunch together
in restaurants within the fish port complex, and ‘magkukumares’ na nagkayayaan bumili sa fish market.

(Site Selection 4 Slide)

Last in this list of site selection criteria, is of course, the site’s demographic profile suitability. Are there enough
fishermen or people with fisheries-related livelihoods to cater? This criteria targets the real essence of establishing a
fish port.

(Site Selection All Slide)

Having all of these 4 criteria considered, I was able to come up with one specific site in mind. The site that is the
most suitable and fitting for my project.

(Laguna de Bay Slide)

But just to give you an insight on the macro-level of choosing this site, I would like to emphasize that since Laguna de
Bay’s situation is what my project is addressing, the site selection is limited within its jurisdiction, specifically in Metro
Manila, and Laguna.

(Site Selection Slide)

San Roque in Victoria, Laguna, Aplaya in Pila, Laguna, and Hagonoy in Taguig City, Metro Manila are the sites that I
was choosing from. And by discussing and evaluating all the necessary criteria including the four specialized criteria I
discussed a while ago, the Aplaya in Pila, Laguna scored the highest.

(Video Slide)
The video interview emphasizes why the chosen site in Aplaya in Pila, Laguna was the most fitting for this project.
Not only because they are benefitting from Laguna de Bay but also because their life depends on Laguna de Bay.
However, due to the lack of selling opportunities, only a few, to be exact four, of Pila’s fishermen can efficiently utilize
the existing fish landings in the area.

(4 / 1704 Slide)
4 out of 1704 fishermen are benefitting from the existing fish landings in the area. The rest, according to the
Secretary of the Mayor of Pila, Laguna, are selling their caught fish to other places. This statement is also supported
by the statement of Manong Jojo where he stated that some of these numbers have to either get their tricycles or rent
one para dalhin ang mga huli nila sa Pila Public Market which is approximately 4.1 km away from the landing.

(Micro Map Slide)

Now, let’s proceed to the most crucial part of this discussion, which is the fact that I am connecting two fish landings
of two barangays in Pila, Laguna. The Barangay Pinagbayanan and the Barangay Aplaya. 2 years ago these two
barangays were supposed to get connected by a road pero hindi natuloy because the water level rises before they
could finish it, and it never continued after that.

(SWOT Analysis Slide)

Now here’s a SWOT analysis to give you more insights regarding the site. Its strength shows that the site is located
near the capital city of Laguna, Santa Cruz City. Cities have higher densities of people, meaning, its proximity to the
site in Pila would allow more people to cater.

The site can also be easily accessed through a provincial road, allowing different types of private and public vehicles
to access the site.

Last on the list of strengths is its accessibility through either land or water. Meaning, the site can be reached using
land vehicles or by boats.

Its weakness includes the proliferation of water hyacinths in the area 8 out of 12 months of the year. This is also an
opportunity that I will be discussing later.

Opportunities, on the other hand, include its picturesque location and its proximity to the future Laguna Lake Road
Network, allowing more foot traffic into the site.

And lastly, the threat of the site is its susceptibility to flooding since it is located along the shoreline of Laguna de Bay.

CHAPTER 5

(Now What Slide)

Having all of these in mind, the question that would emerge here now is how would I design a fish port that would
address the problem of Laguna de Bay while also considering the condition of the site.

(Reflection / Refraction Slide)

My answer, is to seek light in the waters of Laguna de Bay. Pa’no pa natin i-coconnect ang light and water together
kung hindi through the concept of refraction and reflection. This concept would be further elaborated later. Refraction
in this project happens through the incorporation of cluster economy. Ito yung pagsasama-sama ng different facilities
that supports each other sa iisang development. So, what are these facilities?

(Cluster Economy Slide)

The process commences with the utilization of the resources provided by Laguna de Bay, where local fishermen
harvest fish which are subsequently transported and landed at designated fish landing areas within the fish port
complex. The fish caught in this system can follow two primary routes. Depending on the type of fish, they may be
transported directly to processing facilities or the public market. Alternatively, they can be conveyed to the offshore
aquaculture hub for further growth and conditioning, enabling their distribution to regional markets beyond the
municipality. Any fish that does not meet the criteria for external transport can undergo processing to ensure its
continued utility as a source of income. These processed products can be sold at the market before reaching
restaurants. Conversely, the floating restaurants have the potential to contribute positively to Laguna de Bay by
incorporating floating gardens that cultivate water spinach and watercress. These plants can serve as both a food
source for the fish and natural water filters, enhancing the overall ecosystem of the area. Additionally, these
restaurants can derive benefits from Laguna de Bay by sourcing water from the lake and subjecting it to purification
processes to make it suitable for drinking and culinary use.
This approach not only enhances the self-reliance of these establishments but also promotes the sustainable
utilization of the lake's water resources.

(Hexagon Slide)
So technically, nag-ooccur si reflection sa fish port complex in this process. Think of this hexagon as a mirror and
each mirrors represent the features of my project. The light in the form of aquatic resources that comes from the
Laguna de Bay can be reflected in any of these mirrors. This process ensures continuous production and would live
no fish wastage.

Okay, so we’ve unraveled how the concept of reflection be depicted in the process within the fish port complex. Now,
let me give you an insight how I connected refraction in the form massing. Refraction is characterized as the process
in which the light bends or deflected. As you can see in the first process the massing is divided in just one direction,
but with the process of refraction, the division bends and get deflected. So, this is how I’ve come up with the form of
each facilities. The next process of the form massing are formulated to address the site’s threat, which is flooding.
Each building na ‘to is pababa nang pababa ang building height and gets slanted in the last process. This does not
only ensure a good view of the lake’s picturesque site but would also transform the whole complex as a flood
mitigating system wherein yung excessive rainwater dadausdos pabalik sa lake.

(Philosophy Slide)

Now, for the design philosophy, here’s how Ar. Felino A. Palafox, Jr. envisions to design the future of the Philippines.
“Guided by the design principle of “integral ecology” — balancing social equity with protecting and conserving natural
environments, inclusive economic growth, culture, and history,— we have a strong commitment to prevent negative
development impacts on people and the environment”