YUGTO: A PROPOSED WOMEN’S CRISIS AND WELFARE CENTER

In today’s time and age, gender inequality and violence against women and children (VAWC) are still prevalent. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (2017) on their National Demographic and Health Survey, one (1) in every four (4) Filipino women aged from 15 to 49 has been subjected to physical, emotional, or sexual assault by their spouse or partner in the Philippines. With the current growth rate of Lucena City’s population, the demands and needs of its people are also increasing, which includes its social welfare services and programs. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (2015), 133,238 residents in Lucena City are identified as female. The city has a total of 313 reported VAWC cases from years 2015 to November 2022 according to the Philippine National Police Lucena (PNP Lucena). As of now, there is a lack of facility that specifically caters to the general well-being of women in the city. Using biophilic design approach, this study aims to heal the emotional and psychological trauma of the victims of VAW. This is to encourage them and help them build their sense of well-being and self-actualization (Peters, 2017). Moreover, it is through this proposed design project that several sustainable architectural design solutions were adapted. For this study the qualitative design method was applied into the data-gathering procedures. The proposed study shall be in Barangay, Bocohan, Lucena City, Quezon. The Proposed Women’s Crisis & Welfare Center aims to provide a sustainable facilitythat will instill a sense of belongingness to women who were deprived of a safe place to stay, learn and heal. Overall, this study sought to create a sustainable facility that caters to women’s needs as its priority. The study aims to focus on the creation of a safe space for women who are in crisis as well as create a conducive learning space that will promote the livelihood programs of women in Lucena City.