PROPOSED PUBLIC MARKET WITH TRANSPORT TERMINAL IN VIGA,

CATANDUANES

_______________________

An Undergraduate Thesis
Presented to the Faculty
of the College of Engineering and Architecture
Catanduanes State University
Virac, Catanduanes

In Partial Fulfillment of the

Requirements for the Degree
Bachelor of Science in Architecture

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DEXTER T. TUSI

October, 2024
 Chapter 1: The Problem and It’s Setting

1.1 Background of the Study

Public markets have traditionally promoted cross-cultural exchange between the

Philippines' early cities and the neighboring islands. A heritage of the Filipino people that

started as the trade of different goods made in specific areas and gradually encouraged

group migration from one place to another, finally giving rise to towns and has long been

recognized as a hub and lively site for commerce and trade. As a key amenity in every

Filipino town, it has served as a venue where entrepreneurs and consumers conduct their

transactions. This allowed buyers to purchase the goods at a lower and more affordable

price than the suggested market price. Public markets, in general, play an important role

in meeting the needs of a typical Filipino household while also contributing to the local

economy of municipalities. Along with the development of public markets in towns

comes the integration of a directly accessible mode of transportation that serves not only

consumers but also local producers. Throughout the country, there are a number of public

markets that have a complementing transportation terminal, which makes deliveries of

items efficient and business transactions possible.

According to the study, Endless Bounty: The Transformative Benefits of Public

Markets”, by Kelly Verel, Co-Executive Director, Project for Public Spaces. However,

public markets are not just places of commerce. What sets public markets aside from
other retail locations is that they operate in public space, serve locally owned & operated

businesses, and have public goals. This focus on the public good is what makes

successful markets grow and connect urban and rural economies. They encourage

community and economic development by keeping money in the local neighborhood. The

study emphasizes the other important benefits of a good public market, given that it is a

public market with a terminal. It can provide economic opportunity among the locals,

encourages neighboring municipalities to trade their products, and also encourages the

consumer to buy their pasalubong and their meal before going home.

The Viga public market is located along the national road of San Pablo Street and

is between the temporary municipal hall and the police station. This is the main market of

neighboring barangays within the vicinity of the municipality of Viga. This market

mainly serve fresh meat and fish. With its limited space, there are also limited products

that the market can accommodate, leading some of the sellers to make a space to sell

along the road. The public market's current site is also unsuitable, especially given its

distance from the town's main market. Its zoning is evident proof of years of

compromised laws that local sellers failed to observe, resulting in the drab, unsanitary

environment that currently exists in the market.

With an expanding number of public transit options in Viga, the municipality

lacks a terminal to accommodate the community's transportation needs. Many of the

municipality's modes of transportation are vans or full-size vans that travel to Virac. The

current terminus is located in an alleyway adjacent to the public plaza and the clinic,
which is undesirable since it may obstruct the passage from the clinic to the main road.

Another is the tricycle, which is placed near the crossroads and might generate traffic

gridlock. Along with its growth, the town has had a number of issues with its

infrastructure, including its public market, which sells locally created products and other

fresh vegetables.

The proponent aims to increase the quality of transportation services and create an

ordered traffic flow that caters to the comfort of both drivers and passengers. An efficient

transportation terminal is critical in every community because it provides entry and exit

points for both passengers and economic businesses. This contributes to the city's

economic development while also promoting safety and convenience for the users.

For these reasons stated above, a public market is a crucial need for every

hometown, government agencies are required to ensure that every municipality or city

has a well-planned public market that strictly adheres to corresponding rules and

regulations and is integrated with an easily accessible transportation terminal to fully

facilitate economic activities and transactions.

1.2 Objectives of the Study

There is a need to identify a new location for Viga's existing public market and

public terminal. Along with its relocation, a new design will be created to address the

issues that have already been identified with the present. Furthermore, the study must

address and resolve the following:

1. To design a new public market with a terminal.

a. Analyze and create site development plan prior to;

i. Site amenities

ii. Site considerations

b. To determine the design solutions to be incorporated in the design.

i. Energy efficiency

ii. Air quality and ventilation

c. To develop a functional and effective layout for the project.

d. To develop a design that considers the long term viability and sustainability;

i. Maintenance

ii. Resilience to natural hazards

1.3 Scope and Delimitation

The study will focus on a comprehensive site analysis, considering factors such as

accessibility, proximity to existing infrastructure, and land availability. It will develop a

detailed functional program outlining the layout, spaces, and functions required to meet

the needs of vendors, customers, and transportation users.

The research will primarily focus on the architectural aspects of the project,

including design concepts, space planning, and aesthetics. It will not delve into detailed

engineering or structural calculations. While the study will consider the feasibility of the

proposed design, it will not include a comprehensive financial analysis or cost estimation.

Furthermore, the study will not conduct a detailed social impact assessment of the

project, focusing primarily on the architectural and functional aspects.

1.4 Importance of the study

The study will primarily benefit the municipality of Viga as it aims to provide a

possible solution to the issues regarding the public market and the traffic congestion

brought about by the absence of a transportation terminal. The local government of Viga

can benefit from this study as it can provide ideas, solutions and plans on public market

and generate income for their government and also create job opportunities for their
constituents. Also, the study can suggest an answer regarding the traffic congestion

through establishing a terminal considering new routes for a better traffic flow.

Farmers, fisherman, local merchants, and business owners can profit from this

research since it will offer them with a public market that will not only promote their

products but also revitalize the local commerce, which may have been eclipsed by private

shops, supermarkets, and malls. Furthermore, the addition of a physically accessible

transit terminal might significantly increase commercial operations by quickly enabling

transactions to and from the municipality.

This study can aid the architectural community by providing further expertise in

the planning and design of public markets with integrated transit terminals. Professionals

and students undergoing similar investigations should use this work as a reference.

1.5 Definition of terms

Public Market. A type of commercial center that is usually owned and managed

by the government where local vendors rent or lease spaces to sell their produce.

Center of Commerce and Trade. The place of a city or town where most of the

business transactions are being done.

Dry Market. The section in a market where goods such as clothing, accessories

and fabric are located.

Wet Market. The section in a market where goods such as meat, poultry, fish and

produce are sold by independent vendors.

 Retailing. Commercial transaction in which a buyer intends to consume the good

or service through personal, household or family use.

Transportation Terminal. A hub designed for the unloading and loading of

passengers.

Traffic Congestion. A condition on traffic networks resulting to an increase of

users, and is characterized by slower speed, longer trip times and increased vehicular

queueing.