CHAPTER 1

THE PROBLEM
This chapter contains the introduction, background of the study, statement of the

problem, objectives of the study, conceptual framework, significance of the study, scope

and limitations of the study and definition of terms.

 CHAPTER I

THE PROBLEM

1.1 Background of the Study

In the Philippines, Busby introduced Agri-Tourism Sites as the new frontier for

agriculture and a rapidly growing opportunity for farm entrepreneurs. As a tropical

country with an abundance of natural resources, biological diversity and a strong

cultural heritage, the Philippines is well-positioned for Agri-tourism (Department of

Tourism).

According to Lindberg, destinations such as Agri-Tourism Sites should have a

consistent and coherent planning, in order to prevent and overcome such problems in

the environment. Tourism growth, as well as the agriculture sector should understand

the scientific approach to planning, management, development of tourism products and

sustainable activities. Furthermore, attention to architecture and construction is used to

explore the potential for a tourism site in promoting conservation and development and

avoiding the negative impact on the ecology, culture and aesthetics.

Agri-Tourism is an activity that links the economic, social and environmental

components of sustainability, strongly related to local communities and their attitudes

towards tourism. [ CITATION Mur16 \l 1033 ] According to Tinsley and Lynch, Agritourism

can be seen as an innovative and diversifying strategy for farms, including recreational

and leisure activities for tourists, with many economic and non-economic benefits for

farmers, visitors and communities [ CITATION Tew12 \l 1033 ] , with a significant emphasis
on natural, organic, bio aspects, in any part of human activities, health and the

environment, in a word on sustainability. [ CITATION Bra94 \l 1033 ].

Developing the built environment of an Agri-Tourism Site is dependent on its natural

location. The relationship of Agri-tourism with the nature is challenging since nowadays

the agriculture environment is facing different climatic issues especially here in the

Philippines, which according to climate change index (CRI), is consistently ranked as

one of the most highly climate-vulnerable countries in the world which have

disproportionate effects on its agriculture sectors.

The architecture on built environment plays a significant role in climate change — from

how projects are constructed, to how they’re used, to how they are disassembled at end

of life. For decades, the design and construction field has implemented increasingly

stringent “high performance” design practices to minimize those impacts.

But as climate change nears a tipping point with irreversible impacts, high performance

measures still result in net negative impacts and should only be considered first steps

toward something bigger. According to Colin Rohlfing the Sustainable Development

Director of HDRIC, people need to think about developments not in the context of doing

less harm, but actually doing good. In other words, projects need to actively regenerate

or contribute positive impacts to the people who use them and the local ecology that

surrounds them.
The City of Urdaneta has an urbanization level of 68.61% and has been identified by the

Provincial Government of Pangasinan as a growth pole. Still, agriculture is the major

source of income and livelihood of the people. In terms of tourism, the city does not

have scenic beaches, fascinating caves, wildlife parks, and other natural attractions,

though it has a vast agricultural land that can turn into possible amenities.

According to the City Planning and Development Office of Urdaneta which is stated at

the City Land Use Plan (CLUP), the city is envisioned to be the center of agri-industrial

development and educational advancement in northern Luzon. In line with its vision,

Agri-tourism is very much suitable for the city which having 81% agricultural zone of its

land use and about 56.88% is within Strategic Agriculture and Fisheries Development

Zone (SAFDZ). The vision of the city is inherent to the key underlying vision for the

Philippines to become a leading agritourism destination by embarking on large scale

development, which will be achieved with the plan of establishing one farm tourism site

in every municipality nationwide.

Within the city, there is a proposed economic zone which is located in the barangay of

Oltama, Sugcong and Cabaruan. About a hundred hectare wherein most are arable

lands can be converted for agri-industrial development. The City Land Use Plan of Year

2017-2027 stated that the allocated lands can be used for agri-industrial which is

perfectly fit for an Agri-Tourism development.

Though agri-tourism can give people awareness about the challenges to the Agricultural

environment, introducing the built environment of Agri-tourism Complex on the natural

ecology of Agriculture can also worsen these conditions in terms of the construction of

its infrastructures and facilities. The development may involve many activities that can

have adverse environmental effects. Many of these impacts are linked with the

construction, development of infrastructures and even tourist footprints. On the other

hand, tourism also contributes to more than 5 percent of global greenhouse gas

emissions, with transportation accounting for 90 percent of this.

With the existing challenges due to climate change on the agricultural lands and the

negative impact that can be introduced by the development of Agri-Tourism in the

environment it is needed to have a concept that will help its infrastructures and facilities

in terms of contributing positive impacts to the people who use them and to the local

ecology that surrounds them. The infrastructures of the Agri-Tourism Complex should

be planned and designed through a concept that will address the issues on the

environment of Agriculture. Hence, the concept of Regenerative Architecture is

introduced in this research.

Several researches have found out that regenerative architecture is suited for a

development that is within critical conditions. The concept of a Regenerative

Architecture came from the researches of environment friendly design movement. It

emerges from the conventional human actions that are destroying the living systems on
earth. In seeking of possible methodology in reversing the degradation of the earth’s

natural system, researchers came up with a Regenerative approach.

Thus, the goal of this research is to explore the strategies and interventions of a

Regenerative Design that is suitable for the infrastructures and facilities of the Agri-

Tourism Complex. The proposed complex aims to aid the agricultural environment to

regenerate while preventing negative effects of its development. It seeks for help on

minimizing conflicts between infrastructures and the natural biodiversity of agriculture.

1.1.1 Agri-Tourism

The word “agri-tourism” is a mash-up of both “agriculture” and “tourism”. Merriam

Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary defines agritourism as "the practice of touring

agricultural areas to see farms and often to participate in farm activities and in an

agricultural process for recreation or leisure purposes."

1.1.2 Sustainable Tourism

Sustainable tourism requires the informed participation of all relevant stakeholders, as

well as strong political leadership to ensure wide participation and consensus building.

Achieving it requires monitoring of impacts, introducing the necessary preventive and/or

corrective measures whenever necessary. Sustainable tourism should also maintain a

high level of tourist satisfaction and ensure a meaningful experience to the tourists,

raising their awareness about sustainability issues and promoting sustainable tourism

practices amongst them (World Tourism Organisation, 2001).

Table 1. Agritourism as a tourism offer

Criteria for Defining Agritourism

Definition of unites elements of two Advantages for farmers
Agri-Tourism from the complex sectors— (1) development of new market
perspective of agriculture and tourism can niches
agricultural activity play a significant role in (2) increasing interest for
supporting many agricultural local products
agricultural enterprises (3) the opportunity to
Definition of source of the growth and maintain/use agricultural land
agritourism from the diversification of the rural (4) creating jobs at the family
perspective of the economy diversification to level
development of rural maintain the viability of (5) increasing the sustainability
communities agricultural businesses of agricultural businesses
Defining agritourism economic activity within an
Benefits for communities
as a agricultural holding/farm or
(6) creating new jobs
stand-alone food industry enterprise
(7) expansion of local market
component carried out in order to
(8) attracting other businesses
produce visitors’
and small industries
advantages and
Benefits for tourism industry
satisfaction carried out in
(9) diversifying the mix of
order to generate additional
tourist products
income for the farmer
(10) positioning, as a rarity, of
agritourism communities

Source: Agritourism-A Sustainable Development Factor for Improving the ‘Health’ of

Rural Settlements.
1.2 Statement of the Problem

Traditionally, buildings have been created to meet certain needs—function, comfort, and

budget—but minimally focused on how well they fit with the natural environment. They

also have been designed and constructed for uses and conditions of the moment, and

therefore usually require remodeling or replacement when needs or circumstances

change, a costly approach both financially and environmentally. Buildings tend to be

thought of as static edifices that remain the same over decades, interacting little with

their environment or occupants.  (Whole Buildings design guide, 2016).

Although Urdaneta City might be considered as an Agricultural Community, its

agricultural lands are now challenged. The technical findings and observations of the

City Planning Office of Urdaneta shows that the environment of the Agricultural lands

are degrading due to urbanization and climate change leading into unpredictable

weather conditions, poor quality of food, food insecurity, decreased on crop production

and decreased incomes of the farmers.

With the existing environmental problems on agricultural sector of the city, integrating

infrastructures for an Agri-Tourism Complex may worsen the situation of the natural

ecology of agricultural lands. According to UN Habitat, buildings are responsible for a

significant proportion of carbon emissions. Energy used in the construction used in

buildings accounts for carbon dioxide emissions in the environment. Buildings account

for around 35% of resources, 40% of energy use, consume 12% of the world’s drinkable

water and produce almost 40% of global carbon emissions. Poorly designed and
constructed buildings use more energy, increasing the demand on energy production

and contributing to global warming.

However, if the infrastructures and facilities that will be present on the Built Environment

of the Agri-Tourism Site are properly designed and associated with interventions,

theoretically applying Regenerative Design, will make the Agri-tourism Complex have a

positive impact on the environment while taking account of the Vision of the City in term

of Agri-Industrial development and educational enhancement of the community.

According to the researchers Mang and Reed, Regenerative design seeks not only to

reverse the degeneration of the earth's natural systems, but also to design human

systems that can co-evolve with natural systems, to evolve in a way that generates

mutual benefits and greater overall expression of life and resilience. This field of

regenerative development and design, which draws inspiration from the self-healing and

self-organizing capacities of natural living systems, is increasingly seen as a source for

achieving this end.

Furthermore, based from Littman, Regenerative Architecture is the practice of engaging

the natural world as the medium for, and generator of the architecture and Cole added

that Regenerative Design is an approach that supports the co-evolution of human and

natural systems in a partnered relationship. Therefore, it can be concluded that it is not

the building that is ‘regenerated’ in the sense as the self-healing and self-organizing
attributes of a living system, but it is a way that the action of the built environment in

bringing for positive change within the unique location in which it is situated.

The effectiveness of this idea will be determined after the processes of this study. The

research specifically sought to answer the following problems addressed in the

research.

1.2.1 Research Questions:

1. What are the Regenerative design features that contribute to the what

aspect? design of the Agri-Tourism Complex infrastructures in order to

compliment with the environment?

2. What are the applicable strategies and interventions of Regenerative

Architecture that will be suitable in the Agri-Tourism Complex to be located at

Urdaneta City, Pangasinan?

3. What are the significant features and activities that an Agri-Tourism Complex

can offer to the localities that will be integrated in to the building design?
1.3 Research Objectives:

1. To understand the existing physical conditions of the project site in Urdaneta

City, Pangasinan that will be essential in designing infrastructures of the Agri-

Tourism Complex.

2. To identify the Regenerative features and interventions that contribute to the

design of the Agri-Tourism Complex Infrastructures to cater the needs of the

people and the environment.

3. To analyze the applicability of Regenerative Design Features of the

infrastructures in the Proposed Agri-Tourism Complex in the project site

located at Urdaneta City, Pangasinan.

1.3 Significance of the Study

To the public - the study provides an overview of an Agritourism Farm in the Philippines,

its potentials and struggles. The study creates awareness of the importance of the

Agritourism Farm aspects and labor process.

To the farmers- the study provides a developmental concept that addresses the

economic and environmental concern of Eco-Sustainable Agritourism Farm. The study

provides a discussion of architectural intervention that integrates value-added features

to Agriculture and its tourism.

To Agricultural ecology - the study provides an architectural planning intervention that

involves a framework that aims to lessen the environmental impact of the Agri-Tourism

in Urdaneta City, Pangasinan.

To the researcher - The study provides a better understanding of the marketing

processes to provide Eco-sustainable approach to the development of Agritourism Farm

supporting the goals of the city to become the Center of Agro-Industry in Luzon.

To the People of Urdaneta City

To the Community

1.4 Scope and Delimitation

The research covered the analysis and designs of an Agri-Tourism Complex within an

area in Cabaruan, Urdaneta City. This project aimed to be transparent with the

maximum potential public users from the local community and visitors. In this manner,

the investigation focused on architectural research solution that offers Regenerative

Design that will be applied to the infrastructures of the Agri-Tourism Complex.

Furthermore, this research did not only focus on the proposed development of Agri-

Tourism alone but also considered the natural surroundings of agriculture and

landscape for the betterment of the research.

1.5 Theoretical Framework

 Regenerative Design
Development

Physical Design Design Interventions

Strategy (Literature Analysis)

User’s-based Literature Based

Recreation
Education
Agri-Business

Agri-Tourism Complex

1.6 Conceptual Framework

1.7 Conceptual Framework

INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT

 Design
 Cross analysis of
 Review of related Interventions; and
the review of
literature  Physical design
related literature,
 Location features of a
location, and
 Respondents proposed Agri-
respondent’s data
Tourism Complex

Figure 2. Conceptual Framework of the study

The input of the conceptual framework involves reviewing related literature on

Agri-Tourism Complex Development, informal interviews with local and barangay

personnel regarding the location or the place of the study.

The review of related literature will be used to identify initial mechanisms and

design approaches as well as strategies of the proposed development.

To determine the physical design features and Design interventions of the Agri-

Tourism Complex, a cross analysis of the review of related literature, the location, and

the respondents through informal interview such as online communication as well as

interview questionnaire is done.

Online and internet communication such as using social media platforms in

conducting interview is needed because of the quarantine protocols of the government

due to Covid-19 pandemic.

1.7 Definition of Terms

1.9 Abbreviations
 CHAPTER 2
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

This chapter contains the design and methodology used to acquire the result of an

assessment on a specific matter which is also referred to as the research problem; in a

systematic and conceptual analysis of methods applied to this study. It comprises the

process of the research design and data gathering tools which was interpreted through

a Descriptive type of research methodology.

CHAPTER 2
 DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY

3.1 Research Design

The Nature of Research for this research is Basic Research which is also called

pure research or fundamental research. It is scientific research aimed at improving

scientific theories that will offer understanding or prediction of natural or other

phenomena. This research aimed to further understand how to design a Agri-Tourism

Complex applying Regenerative Design where both local residents and visitors would

be interested both in what the barangay has to offer with regards to its recreation and

education in terms of Agriculture. The Perspective of Research is a combination of

Qualitative and Quantitative, where Qualitative data were taken in which information

was obtained through more detailed questions in meeting with people that is essential in

supporting the study, while Quantitative data on the other hand, came from both local

people and visitors who will be involved in using the Agri-Tourism Complex. Basically,

the research study proposed to observe and/or interact with a study’s

participants in their real-life environment to support a designer’s deeper

understanding of the design problem.

Descriptive method is the Approach of the Research where it aims to

systematically describe the facts and characteristics of a given population or area of

interest, factually and accurately. It includes the following steps:

 Define the objectives in clear, specific terms. What facts and characteristic are to

be uncovered?
  Design the approach. How will the data be collected? How will the subjects be

selected to insure they represent the population to be described? What

instrument or observation techniques? Etc.

 Collect the data

 Report the result

In the descriptive process, the collected background information and analysis of

data is used to reach the specific conclusion needed in the research. Strategically step-

by-step procedure must be followed to attain the research aims and objectives.

Interpreting and describing the information gathered through a concise method would

allow the results of the research to be achieved.

The Method of research is a combination of questionnaires, and graphical

presentations.

2.2 Population and Locale of the Study

The locale of the study is at the City of Urdaneta. The research involves

observation procedures and site analysis to the general surroundings and environment

of the place of the study as well the community in Agricultural sector. To gain further

understanding about the place of the study and for the proposed Design of Agri-tourism

Complex, in-depth interviews were initiated to the main populace who are currently

situated in the place as well as the barangay and city officials to ensure the credibility of

the data. The study considered them as the authorized overseers of the place which
can give the research a much-detailed incitement about the people in the local

community and visitors as well as their activities within the place of the place of the

study.

2.3 Data Gathering Tool

Qualitative Data

Graphical Presentation/ Architectural Design is a means to show or describe

data in a clear way that measures it through the use of graphical and design

communication.

Observation is a means of data collection by which knowledge about a

phenomenon is gathered through observation.

Quantitative Data

Questionnaire and Interview is a means of eliciting the feelings, beliefs,

experiences, perceptions, or attitudes towards the proposed project that contribute the

reliability and validity of the study. As data collecting instrument, it could be of structured

or unstructured method.

Topic Selection
Regenerative Design of
Agri-Tourism Complex
Development

PROBLEM AND THE

SETTING

DATA GATHERING DATA GATHERING DATA GATHERING

TOOL 1 TOOL 1 TOOL 1

-Observation
-Literature Data -Interview
 Analysis and Analysis and
Analysis and
Interpretation Interpretation
Interpretation
Figure 3. Data Gathering Procedures and Tools

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

2.3.1 Reporting and Existing Data

In order to determine the Regenerative Design For the Development of Agri-

GRAPHICAL
Tourism, the researcher will use PRESENTATIONS/ ARCHITECTURAL
texts of various formats, pictures, audio or video,
DESIGN
qualitative content analysis that are related to the physical development of the

infrastructures. Literature Data Matrices allows the gathering and submitting of data

subjected to analysis. Data such as non-governmental Organization (NGO) reports,

newspapers, web articles and institutional archives will enable the study to extract and

present accurate data in chart will allow data collection from existing sources to

investigate research questions other than those for which the data were originally

gathered. Written by scholarly publications, research journals and books will position the

research in relation to other researchers and theorists.

The non-invasive nature is one of the key advantages of using these kind of

literatures give sense of a certain phenomenon. Successful researchers are choosing

approaches that will best help them answer their substantive questions.

2.3.2 Interview and Questionnaires

Interviews and questionaires play an important role to engage the respondents in

a direct face-to-face attempt to obtain reliable and valid measures in the form of verbal

responses. During the on-site visit in the place of the study, the researcher invite and

search for qualified samples working within the place and of the study area for a semi-
structured interview which focused on the detailed discussion about the people and

activities within the place.

Semi-structured interview allows a little more room for the researchers to explore

the subject matter and concerns that the respondent may share along the way. An

interview is great for a qualitative approach as it allows a conversation in which the roles

of the interviewer and the respondent change continually. The important points of

discussion were being taken note while simultaneously being analyzed to produce

strings of discussions. The use of audio recording during the semi-structured interview

allows the researcher to gather and review conversation in the interview. Alternative to

printed data gathering tools, audio recording provides the exact data needed in an

interview, such as flow and certain details of the conversation.

Online and internet communication such as using social media platforms in

conducting interview is needed because of the quarantine protocols of the government

due to Covid-19 pandemic.

2.3.3 Observation and Site Analysis

This is a method of data collection by which knowledge about a phenomenon is

gathered through observation. The essence of the study could be done either as a total

observer, as a participant, as an observer or as a full participant. The actual interaction

of the researcher to the facilities provides primary data that is significant to identifying

requirements and consideration on the proposed Agri-Tourism Complex project

development. The researchers use a checklist to state specific criteria that allow

researchers to gather information and make judgments about what they should know in
relation to the outcomes during observation procedures. Checklists offer systematic

ways of collecting data about specific behaviors, environment, and functions. The

researcher also used cameras to acquire audio and visual reference data on the actual

scenario of the place. It allows the researcher to repeatedly review qualitative data that

the researcher may miss during the process of observation.

2.4 Treatment of Data

Since the study is qualitative in nature, descriptive and graphical statistical tools

-Scale of Measurement will be used for the treatment of data. The measuring scale will

be used to weight the importance of the data from one component to another.

A. Flow Chart is a diagram depicting a process algorithm, system, or computer.

They are commonly used for organizing, developing and communicating often

complex processes in simple, easy to understand diagrams in multiple fields.

Flowcharts, also known as flowcharts, use rectangles, ovals, diamonds and

potentially various other types to define phase sort, along with connecting arrows

to define flow and series. These can vary from plain, hand-drawn charts to

complete computer-drawn diagrams illustrating numerous steps and routes. A

flowchart's principal function is to examine different processes.