A PROPOSED LOPEZ BANTAY DAGAT WATCH TOWER AND HEADQUARTERS LOPEZ,QUEZON

Bantay Dagat (BD) is a community-based law enforcement initiative in the Philippines, where fisherfolks volunteer to help with the enforcement of laws against illegal fishing in coastal waters. The BD program has proven to be highly effective and has been formally institutionalized in the Philippines' current national legislation and municipal ordinances for the enforcement of coastal and fishing rules. (USAID/Ghana Sustainable Fisheries Management Project, 2016) The Lopez Bantay Dagat has the responsibility to cover 3,551.38 hectares of municipal waters that stretch among the 17 coastal barangays adjacent to it. (CLUPLopez 2017) According to the Municipal Agriculturist of Lopez, there are no facilities that establishes the organization of Bantay Dagat. (2020) Due to this gap infrastructure, this research aims to provide architectural solutions to resolve the lack of facilities that will aid the Bantay Dagat in the dispense of their duties thereby preserving and conserving productivity of coastal resources by integrating their operations with architectural solutions in their role in apprehending offenders. Interviews with the Fishery Law Enforcers and field study including land survey of the site is a comprehensive source of data for the research. The operations of the Bantay Dagat along with the application of sustainable and innovative building technologies that strengthen the positive contribution of the establishment of the Bantay Dagat, as the basis of the design of facilities that will help in the integration of their organization. The heightened visibility of law enforcement agents within municipal waters that effectively deter or pre-empt illegal fishing activities will also give pride to the local fishermen of the municipality.