Revised October 15
Revised October 15
Revised October 15
LEYTE
A Design Thesis
Presented to the Faculty of the
College of Architecture and Allied Discipline
Tacloban City
In Partial Fulfilment
of the Requirements for the Degree
Bachelor of Science in Architecture
October 2019
PART 1
INTRODUCTION
Island resorts have come a long way from the olden days when resorts were small
and modest in size and luxury. According to Malabay (n.d.), historically, ancient Romans
created a public leisure facility known as baths that could be used by both men and women
separately. Gradually, the baths evolved from their modest structure to include more
extravagant facilities. Evidence of hotels and hospitality industry have been recorded as far
back as biblical times when Mary and Joseph arrived in Bethlehem during the census. The
first hotels were nothing more than private homes opened to the public (SAGO ltd., 2013).
The nineteenth century saw the development of exclusive resort facilities offering
more privacy to the visitors. The wealthy people wished for private resort facilities and
Switzerland’s resort industry realized the lucrative business prospects of this idea. The first
resorts are created in Virginia and New York. Soon afterward, the concept of beach resorts
became immensely popular. The sea became a great place of recreation and beautiful beach
resorts mushroomed all over North America and the Carribean (Malabay, n.d.).
Many island nations depend on tourism and upswing in worldwide tourism can only
mean good news on the economic front in small, tourism-dependent island countries (Ashe,
2005). Hence, the more tourists that visit small island countries, there is pressure to develop
more resources to meet the increased demand. Most of these island nations comprise of
resorts also vary from what people need. People from overcrowded urban areas are
attracted by the relaxing and intact landscape of resorts. With this given, different Local
Government Units (LGUs) in the Philippines invest in hotels and resort projects resulting
to increase in the number of resorts in the Philippines. But thinking about how resorts can
evolve into something that will give new experience cannot be ignored (Malabay, n.d.).
town comprises only a small percentage of land area on a regional scale but is endowed
with disproportionately rich diversity of flora and fauna; heart-seizing scenic beauty;
diverse culture; ethnic etiquettes. The town has a few tourist spots such as the Karap-agan
falls, Hitoog cave and the Canigao Island Resort. It also has numerous of-class food spots
and restaurants that are famous for their seafood delicacies (Pamogas, 2019). Matalom also
has an adequate size of both wet and dry market that cater both local and non-local town
folks. Among these tourist spots, the town has its own pride and joy- the Canigao Island
Resort.
Canigao Island Resort is an island in Leyte under the legal jurisdiction of Matalom
Leyte. It is also an uninhabited tear-shaped island that has a size of an islet compared to
other famous island resorts in the country. It is a 15-minute banca ride away from the
town’s mainland. There is an old but is still a functioning lighthouse that is treated as the
only significant man-made structure in the island (WordPress, 2012). There is also a small
market in the island that serves different kinds of fish, shellfish and seaweeds in the wet
area of the market and different dry good in the dry market. There is an informal basketball
area as well as an area for beach volleyball. In the whole island, there is only one female
toilet and bath beside the male’s toilet and bath that both have 5 cubicles inside (Pamogas,
2019). According to the resort’s manager, the island currently has 10 cottages, 5 huts and
2 concrete rooms for accommodation. There is also a one-storey office with a small store
attached to its side and a wooden bunkhouse for the utilities and staffs who stays in the
In terms of its natural resources, the Canigao Island Resort has an area for huge
tress and different wild plants to grow naturally and abundantly. It embraces a larger scope
of land compared to the area where the structures were built (Pamogas, 2019). The island
has a tropical climate which is similar to that found in other areas of Philippine islands.
The beaches have white sand, with tropical sea creatures and extensive coral reef in the
surrounding waters. Although, the western and northern part of the island is under
snorkeling and boating (Sarkis, 2017). Despite its limitation by law, the LGU decided to
help the island-goers appreciate the beauty of the island more by creating a fish-feeding
area along the sanctuary premises. During low tides, a sandbar appears at the eastern part
of the island. In the forest area along the rear part of the island, it is a good spot for people
who likes camping and enjoys island life more when calm and quite (Pamogas, 2019).
The island serves both the local townsfolks and the foreign through offering
nature’s finest sights. With this, the Canigao Island Resort serves as a major source of the
town’s income. (Pamogas, 2019). The acting Tourism Officer of the town said that it needs
new accommodations as its demand is increasing rapidly. Local and foreign tourists’ arrival
demands urgent hotel accommodations though the people in charge of the island still want
to conserve their natural resources. The most common problem in the island includes
limited availability of the cottages, lack of clean water, inadequate electricity, non-existent
of a clinic within the island and the unattended proper disposal of garbage (Pamogas,
2019). With these problems in hand, the researchers propose to improve a portion of the
island for the construction of new structures, facilities and amenities with the use of modern
innovations which they believe that might help in solving these issues.
For the development to be placed, a huge change within the island is inevitable- the
use of more buildable land area. One of the primary challenges facing ecotourism
Canigao, being an island of small size but filled with flora of different kinds and sizes, the
researchers propose to also have a rehabilitation of the existing forest and providing a
mangrove reserve area. Rehabilitating the forest will help lessen the carbon emission of the
place. It will be up to use as a camping site, area for recreation and relaxation. The forest
will serve as the breathing lung of the island. The mangrove reserve on the other hand will
help in enriching the sea biodiversity of the island especially in the area protected by law
The researchers have come up with a proposal that will take the island resort into a
function halls, camping sites, and landscape that will contribute to the eco-tourism of
Matalom Leyte and also the socio-economic condition of the city. The town has
progress and the advancement of construction in sustainable building and resort designing,
Leyte will be located on an island within the jurisdiction of the town of Matalom. As stated,
the Canigao Island Resort serves as the main source of income in the town, the research
seeks to enhance the existing amenities and facilities the island resort is currently offering.
It will give job opportunities for the unemployed people of the town and those tourism-
related graduates or professionals. The researchers believe that a chance to redevelop the
island resort in Matalom Leyte through innovative and sustainable approaches will highly
attract tourists and will improve the local economy and tourism industry of the town.
One of the purpose of the research paper is to study the doctrine and standard for
not just the social but economic status of Matalom Leyte through the evolution of Canigao
Island Resort. This research aims to identify the practices, policies and institutional forms
This paper will give recommendations to encourage investors, businessmen and capital to
invest in such projects or projects relating to it. Consequently, the researchers will limit the
The purpose of the study is to find a suitable and sustainable approach to the
existing problems in the island. To aims in the design formulation, the research study
2. To determine what are the laws relevant in redeveloping the island as Canigao
3. To know how to preserve the beauty of the Canigao Island and how to make it more
Canigao Island.
5. The main objective of the study is to determine a suitable and sustainable design
approach in redeveloping the Canigao Island Beach Resort that can accommodate
the needs and demands and also optimize the living experience of the tourist with
the locals and nature without inflicting further damage to the existing biodiversity
The town of Matalom is one of the few towns in Leyte that has inviting tourist
destinations. The Canigao Island Resort has been the major source of income in the town
over the years. This study will help raise the economy of the town by enhancing the services
of the island and its different types of accommodations. This will also help raise awareness
and promote sustainable design solutions to lessen the impact of carbon footprints by
changes and increase in tourism, it will help provide more job opportunities for the people
of Canigao.
The research study also focuses to promote the innovative and sustainable design
approaches and construction of the buildings. Sustainable design approaches are identified
designs. Specifically, the outcome of the study will be significant to the following:
To the Society. One of the direct recipients of the output of the research study is
the general public itself. It will spark an interest in learning the importance of using
To the Government/LGU’s. The outcome of the research study will benefit the
local government involved. There are professionals and groups of people who are
authorized in promoting the sustainable design solutions. This would also serve as the
Canigao Island Resort using an innovative and sustainable design approaches can become
an inspiration for present researchers and to the aspiring ones to pursue studies regarding
natural sciences, marine biology, forestry research and modern but sustainable innovations.
To the Architects. The research study will be significant to planners and designers
especially to those who find interest in designing structures that promote awareness and
knowledge towards modern innovations that are self-sustaining. Furthermore, this research
study can be used as a reference tool for the architects to obtain important planning and
design considerations regarding island beach resorts or any projects related to it.
replanning and redesigning an island beach resort or any associated projects and may as
well serve as a reference source in their future thesis research writing and applications.
This may also serve as an inspiration to them as future designers and planners.
To the Students in General. One of the direct recipients of the output of the
research study are students with special requirements related to natural sciences, marine
The proposed thesis project will contribute to the progress of the economic, touristic, socio
stat of the Municipality of Matalom, Leyte through innovation of resort redesigning is one
way to see the proposal. By not only focusing on the tourism and economic growth, the
project will improve how innovative and sustainable approaches design resorts can greatly
contribute to the environment. The proposed thesis project will help to eradicate pollution
target end-users. Furthermore, it will increase the economy of Matalom Leyte, hence,
having enough or more than enough budget for future redevelopment, development or other
programs of the local government. . Also with the project in hand, there’s always a
possibility that it can give jobs to those people around the site that needs it.
To the Researchers and Scientist. The researcher can prove that the project does
not only care for the tourism but also care for the environment through extensive research
and identifying new technologies to solve the problems about pollutions affecting nature.
To the Architects. The project will help give insights and tips in proposing
buildings that uses innovative and sustainable design approaches. In addition, it will also
be a great help in the enhancement of planning a resort in the Philippines evolving resorts