Fig. 3 PRRC removes sacks of water hyacinth from the Pasig River (Theriverman.org, 2019

To this day, the rehabilitation commission has achieved plenty of things that proved that the river can be revamped back to its pristine state, when it was biologically alive and was a source of economic activities. They spearheaded several clean-up and flood control programs (Fig. 3), monitored the water quality, eventually revamped the Pasig River Ferry Service (PRFS) and relocated informal settlement along the river and its tributaries.

Fig. 3 PRRC removes sacks of water hyacinth from the Pasig River (Theriverman.org, 2019)

In the 2017-2032 Pasig River Integrated and Strategic Master Plan (PRISM) of the PRRC, they recommended several projects that can potentially aid the restoration efforts of the Pasig River. One of those is a research and extension hub that “reflects an academic culture that student may be able to relate to.” The recommendation made by PRRC served as a guide to this study, although a few tweaks were made in order to make the project appropriate to its site. This project ties up with the PRRC in order to make sure that the river would maintain its rehabilitated setting and find ways to make it sustainable for the benefit of future generations. Although the rehabilitation commission was already dissolved last November 2019, the study assumes that the commission will be revamped in the future with the same principles and goals.

It is undeniable that there are gaps in the research and development here in the Philippines, such as lack of support from the government, underfunded research, gaps in manpower, etc. According to Ramos Del Rosario (2014), a professor in De La Salle University, only a few academic quarters were making noise for research and development. Many universities and colleges have a publications facility, but very few of them identified clear-cut research programs. Comparing R&D statistics to other countries, a lot of information are evident on any country in Asia but the Philippines.

This project is dedicated to contributing in the Science and Technology sector of the country, as well as helping the City of Manila solve its two major problems: Environmental Degradation and Traffic congestion. The project helps with the re-integration of the Pasig River, a significant waterway in the Philippines, to the life of the Filipino people; an indirect solution to the city’s worsening traffic conditions. Having a clean river means attracting more ferry users, and more ferry users means less road traffic.

Addressing the specific issues of the city that will be discussed as the paper goes further, it is crucial that the solution to these problems are created, or the rapid urban growth of Manila will continue to the path of neglecting the country’s natural resources. The City of Manila, as the capital of the Philippines, shall serve as a role model for other cities; therefore building a solution in this city to solve its problems is important so that the city can be an inspiration and affect the whole country in the future.

CHAPTER 1-2

PROBLEM STATEMENT

MAIN PROBLEM

Manila, with its rapid urbanization, is prone to problems such as environmental degradation and traffic congestion. With this in mind, how can the project provide solutions to these problems by simply promoting the Pasig River to the city once again through a waterfront development? Can building this project produce a longterm solution for future generations?

1. How can the project unify the academe and the city in providing a solution to

Manila’s traffic congestion and at the same time promote and protect the Pasig

River? 2. Aside from environmental degradation and traffic congestion, what other problem does the project need to contribute to, in order to be useful to the people in its location? 3. What specific spaces do the project need in order to solve the main problem? 4. What architectural interventions are needed to lessen the impact of natural hazards to the site? 5. What characteristics or qualities shall the development have to possess in order to encourage target users to appreciate the waterfront development?

SUB-PROBLEMS

CHAPTER 1-3

THESIS STATEMENT

A research facility that shall support the rehabilitation and utilization of the Pasig River, and potentially other freshwater ecosystems in the country. It shall initiate a waterfront development along the riverbanks that celebrates the beauty of the Pasig River, promotes sustainability, water transportation, and environmental awareness from locals and students.

CHAPTER 1-4

THESIS GOALS

The project goal is to initiate waterfront development along the Pasig River that can be used as a model for future developments. The development shall support a facility that further studies and analyzes the conditions of the Pasig River and other bodies of water; and promotes the conservation of freshwater ecosystems here in our country. Situated within the site is the development of transportation on waters to encourage people to try it to get to their destinations and eventually can lessen the traffic of Manila.

Based on the sub-problems, the following objectives were formulated:

1. To develop a research facility that can accommodate students and researchers from different universities to study on hydrologic sciences and other fields related to it, for the future benefit of the Pasig River. 2. To redevelop or develop a Pasig River Ferry Station, depending on its location, to promote water transportation to target users. 3. To promote the Pasig River through the development of open spaces that appreciates the beauty of the river. 4. The building shall have support spaces to cater to its target users, such as students’ center and local business shops. 5. Considering that the site is near the Pasig River, it shall be a structure that can withstand natural hazards prone to areas near water such as flooding.

CHAPTER 1-5 OBJECTIVES

CHAPTER 1-6

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

Since the study focuses on a more indirect solution of Environmental degradation and Traffic congestion, the effect of the study to urban setting might not be instant. However, in the long run, the following are sectors that will benefit from this project:

1) Students and researchers - with the help of the research and student facilities, the students and researchers will be the main beneficiaries of this study. It shall cater to students and researchers taking programs or fields related to hydrologic studies or environmental sciences (e.g. Engineering, Biology, Chemistry, etc.)

2) Commuters and Motorists of Metropolitan Manila – contributing to the solution of a major issue in the city today, traffic congestion, it will be a big help to everyday commuters and motorists specially in saving travel time to and from work or school.

3) Department of Environment and Natural Resources - as a project dealing with the conservation and promotion of freshwater ecosystems, any improvement from this facility may aid the government agency to further enhance their studies to promote solutions in current day issues.

4) Department of Science and Technology - the products of the research facility can be a great opportunity for the development of science in our country.

5) City of Manila Government - this project also takes initiative of the future plans of the city government doing a waterfront design that reintegrates the newly rehabilitated Pasig River to the Metropolitan Manila.

CHAPTER 1-7

SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS

The architectural project is limited to the architectural solution of environmental degradation and traffic congestion in the City of Manila only. This study is not a direct solution to the problems stated above. It is merely a support facility that can further aid in the solution of these issues in the future. The facility does not guarantee the cleanliness of Pasig River, rather it is an initiative for waterfront development to promote it for water transportation, and a research facility to promote for the researchers to study on. In addition, the study focuses on the Pasig River, but may lead to a research facility concerning other rivers and/or bodies of water in the country.

Although the planned general spaces for this project is for the benefit of students and researchers in general, the main target groups would be focused depending on the location of the site. If the site is located near an institution, the students enrolled there are its main users.

As for the research facility itself, it shall focus on the hydrologic studies of the Pasig River. Hydrology covers the study of the water quality improvement and protection of the river through bioengineering.

The following assumptions were formulated based on previous studies:

1. Water transportation offers solution for urban congestion. An article in The

Inquirer argues that there is a great potential in actively utilizing our rivers for transportation. Our three longest rivers (the Cagayan River, Rio Grande de

Mindanao, and Agusan River) sums up to 1,000 kilometers of distance. Not only are we rich in rivers, but in coastal lengths. A statistical report shows that 20,000 additional vehicles take over the road every month, and 7,000 of those are from the NCR alone. We have been focused in our land transportation, perhaps we should take advantage of what nature provides us (Habito, 2007).

2. Academic research offers a long-term solution. Researchers don’t study to put a problem to an end immediately. Instead, they are trained to produce results that are long-lasting and can effectively solve a problem “slowly but surely”. They are required to reflect on the implications of innovations that can distill knowledge that will stand through time and can be applicable to other situations (Piccoli &

CHAPTER 1-8

ASSUMPTIONS