PROPOSED CAGAYAN

PROVINCIAL SUB-CAPITOL
COMPLEX

JAY MARK C. MARIANO BSA-5

Thesis Candidate
CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION

A. The problem and its setting

a. Background of the study

Cagayan is part of one of the largest valleys in the Philippines formed by the majestic
Sierra Madre and Cordillera mountain ranges. It is traversed by the mighty 330-km long
Cagayan River and its various tributaries.
Cagayan is a very ancient civilization. It has its distinct, rich and diverse culture.
Commerce and trade was practiced by its inhabitants and has flourished with the
Japanese, Chinese and other neighbor Asian countries even before the Spanish
colonizers reached its shores. Archeological findings dating back to the Paleolithic Age
indicate that the ancestors of modern humans had settled in Cagayan as early as
500,000 years ago. Archeologists also found evidences that agriculture has developed
much earlier in Cagayan than in any other place in Asia. Its ancientness is evidenced by
the presence of centuries-old churches and other religious relics, archeological sites of
nomadic tribes, and richness of its local language and culture.
Cagayan with its ancientness is still replete with adventure and excitement. It can flaunt
its pristine natural beauty and endowment. It has breathtaking sceneries, beaches,
cavernous caves, thunderous falls, rapids, rivers, limestone mountains, thick and virgin
forests, verdant valleys and many more.
- http://cagayan.gov.ph

Historical
The Cagayan Province has a rich history. Archaeological findings suggests that humans
have settled the province as early as 500, 000 years ago during the Palaeolithic age. The
province prove to be one of the centrepiece during the Spanish inquisition which started
when Spanish Explorer Juan De Salcedo explored the coast of Cagayan in 1572. Once
again, in the Second World War, the province prove its prominence through geographical
location by serving as the retreat hub of the Japanese forces right after the bombing of
the Pearl Harbor.

Geographical
Cagayan occupies the northeastern tip of the Philippines, bounded by the Batanes
Islands on the north, the Philippine Sea (Pacific Ocean) on the east, Isabela Province on
the south, and the Cordillera mountain ranges on the west, Cagayan has a total land area
of 9,002.70 sq. km. It is just about 480 kilometres north of Manila. It is strategically
located near the growing tigers of South East Asia like Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam,
South Korea and even Hong Kong and Japan. It is about 2,730 kilometres south west of
Tokyo, Japan or only 570 kilometres south of Kaoshiung, Taiwan.
The Province, the second largest province in the Region, comprises an aggregate land
area of 9,002.70 square kilometers, which constitutes three percent (3%) of the total
land area of the country.
It is politically subdivided into three (3) districts, one (1) component city, twenty-eight
(28) municipalities and 820 barangays. Tuguegarao City is the provincial capital as well as
the regional center of Cagayan Valley Region. Its 28 municipalities are Abulug, Amulung,
 Alcala, Allacapan, Aparri, Baggao, Ballesteros, Buguey, Calayan, Camalaniugan, Claveria,
Enrile, Gattaran, Gonzaga, Iguig, Lallo, Lasam, Piat, Pamplona, Peablanca, Rizal, Sta.
Ana, Sta. Teresita, Sto. Nio, Sanchez Mira, Sta. Praxedes, Solana, and Tuao.
http://cagayan.gov.ph/about-cagayan/#location
The Province of Cagayan is prominently known in the country as the Cagayan Valley. It is
bounded by the two great mountain ranges which are the Cordillera Mountain ranges on
the west, and the Sierra Madre Mountain ranges in the east.

Climatic
Cagayan, exemplifies tropical Philippines, thus, is generally warm, humid and sunny
throughout the year. It has three types of climates. Type I climate prevails in Santa
Praxedes and in western Claveria, which have two pronounced seasons: wet, May to
October and dry, the rest of the year. Type III climate is experienced in the eastern part
of the Sierra Madre mountains and in the Babuyan group of islands, where rainfall is
evenly distributed throughout the year mainly because of the northeast tradewinds. This
further enhances the economic potential of the sea level lands along the pacific coast of
the Province.
The rest of the province, which consists of the valley floor, has Type II climate, and that
means no pronounced season; relatively wet from May to October. Maximum rain
periods are not very pronounced and dry seasons last from one to three months.
From November to January, the northwest monsoon from East Asia brings dry and cool
winds to this valley floor. Because of the open coastline in the north, this part of the
province feels the full impact of this phenomenon, which could mean cold mornings and
evenings, with average temperatures ranging from 18 to 21 degrees Celsius. The
tradewinds from the Pacific are blocked by the Sierra Madre range. Being on the
leeward, this part has hot and dry climate in summers from February to May, with
average temperatures ranging from 30 to 38 degrees Celsius. From June to October, the
southwest monsoon from the Southern Hemisphere brings heavy rainfall as it blows
over the mountains. This heavy rainfall extends to the early part of November. During
these months, rainy days could average 11 to 20 days a month. Being sheltered by the
Sierra Madre Mountains the prevailing winds are north and northwest in the valley floor
of Cagayan. This part of the province is driest in February to March.

b. Statement of the problem

The provincial government of Cagayan relaunched the Cagayan sub-capitol complex
located at Bangag, Lal-lo, Cagayan. In connection with this, the provincial government
wanted to further develop its existing site to house a new sub-capitol building to replace
the existing building. This building, along with other support structures, will be
constructed at the 24-hectare lot located at Lal-lo, Cagayan.
The sub-capitol building will be constructed together with different support structures
namely, convention center, employees dormitory, evacuation center, farmers training
center, motor pool, quick response center, rehabilitation center, and retirement village.

This study aims to answer the following questions:

1. How can the design effectively serve the employees of the provincial government?
 2. How can it benefit the community as well?
3. How can effective site planning of the complex affect the movement patterns?
4. What are the best circulation configuration to incorporate to the structures to
maximize productivity?
5. What are the techniques that can be applied to the complex in order for it to
minimize its negative environmental impact?

c. Architectural thesis goals/objectives/strategies

The design of the new Cagayan Provincial Sub-Capitol Building shall be designed to be a
resilient and sustainable structure through the use of best architectural practices.
The design of the complex shall carefully integrate the community as a whole to create a
community-friendly complex.
It shall have the best possible circulation to streamline the workflow between the
different offices as well as the common people who have concerns to be addressed by
the provincial government.
To break the physical and non-physical barriers between different offices, it shall create
an avenue wherein the employees can get together between office hours and escape
the stressful environment of the office.
To create a sense of continuity of the architectural character of the building, it shall pay
homage to the existing provincial capitol building. At the same time, it shall bind the
appearance of the building with the present trend in architectural design to create a
sense of uniqueness.
In order to achieve resiliency and sustainability, the structure shall conform with the age-
old Vitruvian architectural principles of firmitas (firmness/strength), utilitas
(utility/function), and venustas (beauty).

d. Scope and limitations

e. Purpose / relevance / significance of the study
f. Assumptions
g. Definition of terms and concepts
B. Review of related literature
C. Theoretical / conceptual framework
D. Methodology of research
E. Bibliography