Keeping the Balance While Building Stronger Communities – The Pivotal Role

of Engaging with the Public in the Comprehensive Land Use Plans (CLUP)

As the Philippine economy continues to bloom and humanity keeps striving for

a better quality of living, a rising demand for land uses to accommodate expanding

businesses and communities also comes along. This uprising development presents

both opportunities and challenges. Throughout the years, the continuous need for

improvement in land use planning for critical resources such as upland, coastal,

biodiversity areas, ancestral domain, and heritage denotes a sequential challenge of

how not to jeopardize the conservation and preservation of the environment and the

laws that protect it.

Large-scale and multiple land usage plans can be hard to manage and

address when guidelines are not followed. Thus, the need for a thorough and strict

law practice shall be exercised. Local Development Councils and Barangay

Development Councils become critical personnel as they know the laws regarding

the Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) and the foundation for its effective

mandate. The CLUP functions as a guide that addresses the rising need and

concerns for land use while assuring and ensuring economic development in a

sustainable manner that aligns with the requirements of the law that relate to land

usage, particularly within local government units.

In essence, principles are what drive any goal direction and roadmap toward a

target goal. Likewise, there are also needed principles for the CLUP to ensure its

effective implementation. These principles serve as the pillars and foundation for firm
decision-making, ensuring that land use planning results in positive outcomes for the

stakeholders and the environment.

Upon reading the CLUP Volume 1 of the Department of Human Settlements

and Urban Development (DHSUD), I have summarized these guiding principles that

the CLUP should align to.

First is equity and social justice. According to Article XIII, the Congress shall

give the highest priority to the enactment of measures that protect and enhance the

right of all the people to human dignity, reduce social, economic, and political

inequalities, and remove cultural inequities by equitably diffusing wealth and political

power for the common good. The said constitution focuses on the constitutional

commitment to social justice, fairness, and the protection of various sectors of

society, like farmers, indigenous communities, the urban poor, and other

marginalized groups reflecting a more equitable and just society in the Philippines.

This gives equal opportunities, and just decisions benefitting the right people without

any form of bias.

The second is being firm and strict on legal compliance and land use

efficiency. Republic Act 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991 points out the

powers granted to LGUs giving them the responsibility of delivering basic services

ensuring the preservation of culture, promoting health and safety, and the right of

people to a balanced ecology, and more under this law. Their duties and

responsibilities of making sure that the laws are followed strictly would show the

public a more prompt and active governance that is accountable for guiding and

making an effective and efficient land use plan.

The third on the list is sustainability. This is one of the most important

guidelines that has to be considered. Republic Act 10121 or the National Disaster
Risk Reduction and Management, and Climate Change Act of 2009 focuses on

ensuring that the environment remains protected despite the emerging economic

developments that require the use of land. With these laws, there is a balance in

achieving both economic growth and environmental preservation for a sustainable

Earth that will be used not just today but by the next coming generations.

Fourth is the risk reduction principle. Although I already mentioned

environmental preservation, risk reduction entails a more specific guideline. With this

principle, it aims to minimize the natural risks of hazards that come in partnership

with the use of land for whatever economic purpose it may serve. This principle has

to be given high importance as it is also a direct risk to the stakeholders involved.

Lastly, giving importance to community participation shall also be the guiding

principle of the CLUP. Keeping the involved parties which includes not just the local

government units and barangay sectors but also the community and business

holders would promote a more transparent and proactive relationship on both ends.

Now, aside from these principles, there are also a series of steps that must be

followed for the CLUP. These 12 steps are as follows; (1) Getting Organized, (2)

Identify the Stakeholders, (3) Set the Vision, (4) Analyze the Situation, (5) Set the

Goals and Objectives, (6) Establish Development Thrusts and Development

Strategies, (7) Prepare the Land Use Plan, (8)- Draft the Zoning Ordinance, (9)

Conduct of Public Hearing, (10) Review, Adoption and Approval Process, (11)

Implement the CLUP and (12) Monitor and Evaluate the CLUP/Zoning Ordinance

(ZO). These steps make the plan organized to ensure the implementation of CLUP.

However, when given the liberty to assess which of the said steps is the most

important, I would say, Step 9 which is the conduct of public hearing. Although all

steps are essential in an effective CLUP, Step 9 for me is the crucial step that
decides the success of the plan. Regardless if the vision, mission, and goals are

already established, and all other needed land use plans and zoning ordinances are

prepared, if conflicts arise because of the lack of public involvement through public

hearings, proceeding with the approval and and implementation would be highly

difficult. In public hearings, it is not only the local government bodies that are part of

this plan but all the other stakeholders that are directly involved and affected in this

CLUP.

Moreover, having a public hearing would show transparency in decision

making resulting in a positive outcome for the community as they have been

involved. This step provides an opportunity for planners to openly share information

about the purpose of this land use plan, the policies that make it, and its future

developments, engaging in open communication with the community. Considering

that the Philippines is a democratic country, opinions from the community or the

public, especially those directly affected by these plans, should be valued,

considered, and heard.

Additionally, public hearing for me is one of the biggest and most direct data

gathering as it is based on actual experiences and knowledge of the community

directly living in the area. Having a wide opinion and healthy communication with the

public allows diverse perspectives within the community. The inputs shared by the

residents, businesses, and other stakeholders are extremely useful in creating land

use decisions.

Public hearings also serve as forums to address conflicts of interest,

misunderstandings, or disputes among the stakeholders. Conflicts like these will be

greatly reduced if not completely removed if they arise in the future since it is a

decision everyone involved agreed upon. It is like a brainstorming activity that allows
real-time feedback on the planning and real-time resolution or suggestions as well.

Through this, top priority concerns can be discussed as well which are critical in

deciding and making CLUP.

The time and chance given to the community as their voices are heard, also

promote trust between them and the planners. Subsequently, this would result in a

positive and smoother relationship between residents, stakeholders, and local

government officials.

Others might argue that establishing goals, visions, and missions is the most

important step in the success of the CLUP or even the rest of the other 11 steps.

However, if we are to think about the bigger picture and the long-run process, these

VMGs can be changed or improved in closed-door setups. Preparing land use plans

and zoning areas can also be given to people who are experts in these fields.

However, if the public hearing does not go as planned and as expected, all these

initial preparations and final steps would and could be disregarded and then start

again from scratch if serious conflicts arise. And without the affirmation from the

community and the rest of the stakeholders, the approval, the implementation, and

the rest of the remaining steps would hardly be viable.

In conclusion, comprehensive land use planning plays an important role in

supporting the rising economic growth of the country without forsaking the

environment and the laws protecting it, thus keeping it balanced. The success of the

positive implementation of land use projects does not solely rely on works done by

paper but also on the common decisions shared by the public, the community, and

the stakeholders involved in it.