The concept of “Highest and Best Use” (HBU) is a fundamental principle in real estate appraisal and urban planning. It refers to the most profitable legal use of a property that is physically possible, appropriately supported, and financially feasible, and that results in the highest value of the property.

Here’s a detailed breakdown of the concept:

Criteria for Highest and Best Use

1. Legally Permissible
   • The use must comply with zoning laws, building codes, and other regulations. This includes considering restrictions such as deed restrictions, environmental regulations, and historic preservation laws.
2. Physically Possible
   • The use must be physically possible given the size, shape, topography, and other physical characteristics of the site. This also includes considerations like access, utilities, and environmental conditions.
3. Financially Feasible
   • The use must generate enough income to justify the costs of development and operation. This involves analyzing market conditions, construction costs, and expected returns.
4. Maximally Productive
   • Among the uses that meet the first three criteria, the one that results in the highest value is considered the highest and best use. This takes into account the present value of anticipated future benefits.

Applications in Urban Planning and Real Estate

1. Land Appraisal
   • HBU is a key factor in determining the value of a property. Appraisers use it to evaluate what use of the land would yield the highest return, considering all legal, physical, and financial constraints.
2. Development Decisions
   • Developers use the HBU analysis to decide what type of project to pursue on a given site. This might involve residential, commercial, industrial, or mixed-use developments.
3. Urban Planning
   • City planners use the concept to guide zoning decisions and land-use policies. HBU analysis can inform decisions about where to allocate resources and how to plan for future growth.

Challenges and Considerations

Dynamic Market Conditions

• The highest and best use can change over time as market conditions evolve. What might be the highest and best use today could change in the future due to economic, demographic, or technological shifts.

Community Impact

• While HBU focuses on maximizing property value, urban planners must also consider the broader impact on the community. This includes factors like environmental sustainability, social equity, and overall quality of life.

Balancing Interests

• There can be conflicts between private property owners seeking to maximize their return and public interests in controlling land use to achieve broader social and environmental goals.

In summary, the highest and best use is a crucial concept in both real estate and urban planning, guiding decisions about land valuation, development, and zoning. It requires a comprehensive analysis of legal, physical, and financial factors to determine the most productive use of a property.

Urban morphology refers to the study and analysis of the physical form, structure, layout, and organization of urban areas or settlements. It involves examining the spatial arrangement of buildings, streets, open spaces, and other elements that constitute the built environment in cities and towns. The discipline explores how cities evolve, considering factors such as historical development, social, economic, and cultural influences, as well as the impact of planning and design interventions.

Key aspects of urban morphology include:

1. Land Use Patterns: Examining how different areas within a city are designated for residential, commercial, industrial, or recreational purposes.
2. Building Types and Styles: Analyzing the architectural characteristics and styles of buildings in urban areas, considering factors like height, density, and the arrangement of structures.
3. Street Networks: Studying the layout and connectivity of streets, including patterns such as grids, radial designs, or irregular networks, and how they influence the movement of people and vehicles.
4. Public Spaces: Investigating the design and distribution of parks, plazas, and other public spaces within the urban fabric.
5. Historical Layers: Understanding how historical developments, including changes in technology, culture, and governance, have shaped the physical structure of urban areas.
6. Transportation Systems: Examining the infrastructure for transportation, including roads, bridges, and public transit, and how it impacts the overall form of the city.
7. Socioeconomic Factors: Considering how social and economic factors influence the distribution of land uses and the development of various urban elements.

Urban morphology is an interdisciplinary field that draws on aspects of urban planning, architecture, geography, sociology, and history. The analysis of urban form provides insights into the character of cities and helps planners and policymakers make informed decisions about urban development and design.

We presented the final shelter plan for the municipality of Pavia last Saturday in coordination with our subject Planning Workshop (P210.1) in DURP. We held it in the meeting room of the HUDCC Region VI office located in Jalandoni Street, which is across the University of San Agustin. The initial plan and location were at our classroom in the College of Management at UP Visayas, Iloilo City campus, but due to the interference of the bomb threat that morning, we decided to just transfer it.The presentation started past 1 in the afternoon as we needed to finalize a few of the slides during lunch. We also expected the first-year students of the DURP course to attend and ask questions on our presentation, so the place was pretty much jam-packed. My classmate Atty. Chad was the first to present, while Engr. Nat was the moderator/emcee. The attorney presented the legal basis for the importance of the shelter plan for every LGU and on how it is connected to the national projects. It was followed by the plan’s goals and objectives, which were presented by Engr. Louie. The next chapters that were presented were the Pavia Demographics, current Housing situation, assessment of Shelter needs, Affordability analysis, Resources assessment for Shelter provision, and lastly, the Work Plan. I presented the part on the future housing needs based on the expected population growth.

Questions were raised during the open forum that followed, wherein various topics were clarified for the first-year students. Good thing, Ma’am Eva is there to clarify and explain the scenario. There were a few corrections noted, and then after that, we wrapped up the activity with a group picture. It was nice that we were able to interact with the other class and share ideas.

This week will be our deadline for the corrected paper and to have them printed and bound with one copy for Ma’am Eva and another copy for the municipality of Pavia.

Also, this week in particularly Friday, will be our final presentation of our Site Plan with Sir Franz. I don’t know what the progress is with the write-up yet, as we still have to meet this coming Thursday, but I still hope the content is made before that day. That presentation will also serve as our final exam score so which made me a bit worried, even though this option is better than us actually answering the exam paper.

The last week of the class seems to be so slow, but for us, realizing that we will be graduating after this one feels so satisfying. Wish us luck that our presentation will be (hopingly) perfectly executed.

After almost two decades since the first LSP Guideline was released and with the many new challenges to be faced that greatly affects shelter delivery such as climate change and rapid urbanization, HUDCC, in partnership with the UN HABITAT, embarked on the review and enhancement of the shelter planning guidelines in order to ensure that the LGUs can keep abreast with the call and challenges of the present time as well as prepare for the eventualities that the global climate change phenomenon is expected to bring. This joint endeavor is part of the project known as the Achieving Sustainable Urban Development (ASUD) which is being implemented by the UN HABITAT in five countries, one of which is the Philippines. Based on the review, the Updated LSP Manual was crafted.

RIGHTS-BASED. International human rights law recognizes everyone’s right to an adequate standard of living, including adequate housing.

LOCALIZED DECISION-MAKING. The principle of localized decision-making seeks to ensure plan ownership, accountability and efficiency in the implementation of the plan. This approach in planning has both social and economic benefits. It can draw on local knowledge, expertise, insights and solutions to address locally identified priorities. A plan can be designed, initiated and implemented in a shorter time frame if there is significant local participation. Its benefits can be reaped sooner and this represents in itself a saving both in time and in other resources.

CAPACITY-BUILDING. This is best manifested through the technical assistance extended to the local government units in crafting of a Local Shelter Plan that specifically spells-out all the policies, programs and projects that the LGU can do to achieve sustainable interventions to their communities and affected families.

PLAN IN ADVANCE WITH SUFFICIENT SCALE AND DENSITY. Contrary to piece-meal planning, medium to long-term planning provides a more holistic and integrated approach to shelter provision. To prevent or minimize urban sprawl and promote economies of scale, it is necessary to achieve good density in shelter planning (at least 250 people per hectare).

SUFFICIENT STREET NETWORK AND PUBLIC SPACE. Developing an adequate level of street network and public space ensures neighborhood sustainability and better mobility. A functioning street network is also vital for the businesses to thrive and expand, hence, supporting economic activities or livelihoods in the area.

INCLUSIVE PARTICIPATION. The ultimate aim of participation is empowerment, capacity building and good social-mix.

SUSTAINABILITY. Aim to achieve social, environmental and economic sustainability. Households are not only major consumers of natural resources, energy and water but also major generators of waste. There is a need to generate strategies towards the building of sustainable cities or towns, such as resilience to hazards, proper waste management, and the integration of poverty reduction activities or livelihood programmes to the shelter plan.

AFFORDABLE AND DECENT HOUSING. Majority of urban households are either informal settlers that live on shacks on un-serviced land or renters in slum areas without lease agreements. The regular housing finance mechanisms do not usually allow for incremental, or self-help housing solutions which, oftentimes, are the only affordable options to the poor. Financing rental housing is also not among the priorities of the housing financial institutions as it does not provide any collateral. However, based on the principle of affordable and decent housing, tenement rental housing is advocated as an option for the lower income groups. Tenement rental housing also promotes maximum use of the limited land resources through densification.

PARTNERSHIPS. There is a need to facilitate partnerships between the local government, civil society organizations, the people’s organization, and other private sectors such as the service providers. Hence, the LSP should promote partnerships and complementation of resources (manpower, finance, capabilities).

PROVISION OF BASIC INFRASTRUCTURE. Provision of basic infrastructure, such as water, power, roads, drainage and sanitation, are key components of shelter. This is what makes shelter decent and humane. This is what molds the self-esteem of people; this is what promotes healthy and productive communities.

Sharing a part of the term paper that we submitted last semester for the subject P203 – Land Use Planning. We were grouped in pairs and was tasked to research on the town planning of other countries and I have chosen Hong Kong as our subject for my group. My recent trips there for the MTG Grand Prix somewhat influenced my decision and also on my visit at their Museum of History.

Introduction

Choosing Hong Kong as the subject country for the study of its land use is because of its resemblance and several similar features to that of the Philippines, being another archipelago nation. It is fascinating how this seaside village and is called the “Gateway to China” became one of the progressive countries in the span of decades. The British colonization is one of the main reason, bringing progress in terms of economy.

History of Town Planning in HK

The town planning and development in Hong Kong was initiated and took as a main role by the government, as with any other countries. It evolved in concert with the emergence of a formal planning body which was institutionalized within the government.

Town planning concept did not exist in Hong Kong before the 1930s, and zoning control was done by land leases, intensity control was done by Buildings Ordinance (“Town Planning Development History of Hong Kong,” 2012).

The earliest history of institutionalized planning essentially began with the enactment of the Town Planning Ordinance in 1939 – It was in this Ordinance that the aim ‘to promote the health, safety, convenience and general welfare of the community’ was first proclaimed. Under the provisions of the Ordinance, the Town Planning Board was appointed by the Governor to prepare draft plans for the future layout of existing and potential urban areas as directed (Hong Kong TP, 1984, p. 12). The development of New Kowloon and Kowloon were the priority projects, with the latter being patterned to the Garden City concept.

The Ambercrombie Report (1947)

In 1947, Sir Patrick-Abercrombie was appointed to advise the Governor of Hong Kong on the general lines and principles to be followed in planning the future development of the port and urban area of Hong Kong, to outline general plans for this purpose, and to advise on what such plans would involve and in particular, what planning organization would be required.

The Ambercrombie Report contains the first strategic plan for the territory of Hong Kong as a British Crown Colony. It was funded by the Colonial Office under the Colonial Development and Welfare Scheme of 1945 and was intended to help the Hong Kong Government in the development aspect of its post-war administration.

Abercrombie’s report published in September 1948, outlined various physical planning proposals including the provision of a cross-harbour tunnel, reclamations, railways relocation, removal of military establishments, creation of industrial and residential zones and development of new towns in rural New Territories. As part of these proposals, he also recommended the establishment of an office to draw up detailed plans and to administer them (Hong Kong, 1984, p. 12).

Planning Achievements (1953-1973)

With the setting up of the Planning Branch in 1953, emphasis was put on the preparation of statutory plans under the auspices of the Town Planning Board. By the end of 1958, planning work had included either background studies or surveys and the district plans initiated over 70% of the urban districts. This is also along with some layout plans prepared and intended to be used for the several small townships in the New Territories.

Apart from preparing plans, the Planning Branch also undertook joint studies with other government departments. A comprehensive review of the Territory’s road system was conducted in 1958 by the Planning Branch, the Road Office and a consultant from the British Road Research Laboratory. Planning staff contributed to and participated in a number of committees and working groups concerned with the coordination of the physical development of the Territory.

Planning from 1972 Onwards

A ‘Ten-Year Housing Target Programme’ was approved to be used by the Governor-in-Council and that led to the new era of town planning in Hong Kong. The program aimed to provide adequate housing for another 1.8 million people by the mid-1980s. The agency in-charge, Housing Authority, played an important role as public housing can only accommodate this demand. In response to the need for this major housing programme within the 10-year period, the Government decided to accelerate the development of new towns and to expand market towns in the New Territories. To do this, the New Territories Development Department was formally set up in 1973 within the Public Works Department to be responsible for planning, coordinating and implementing the development programme of new towns. Tsuen Wan, Sha Tin and Tuen Mun were the first three new towns to be developed.

A table summary of the development history of Town Planning in Hong Kong from 1954 to 1996 by Zou and Li (2011) is shown below:

Phases, Time & Town Planning Events

Post-war preparation for renovation
1947 The first Town Planning Office was set up
1948 Sir Patrick Abercrombie’s Hong Kong Preliminary Planning Report was published
1953 The Planning Branch was set up
1954 The Town Planning Regulation was promulgated

Ordinance Enactment
1961 The New Town development was approved
1965 The Colony Outline Plan was formulated
1968 The Urban Improvement Scheme was launched and Outline Plan Preparation
1972 The Ten-Year Housing Programme was published
1974 Hong Kong Outline Plan was completed
1976 The Country Parks Ordinance was enacted

Strategic Planning and AdministrationRe-organisation
1980 The Urban Area Development Organization was set up
1982 The Town Planning Office was reorganized to become a new Town Planning Division
1983 The computerized Land Use-Transport Optimization Model was set up
1984 The first Territorial Development Strategy was completed
1986 The Port and Airport Development Strategy was completed
1988 The Metroplan was completed

Planning System Improvement and Comprehensive Review
1990 The Planning Department was established
1993 The Metroplan Selected Strategy was approved
1994 The Provision of Industrial Premises for New Industrial Area and Business Parks was completed
1996 -The Town Planning White Bill was published
-The Urban Renewal in Hong Kong was published
-The last Territorial Development Strategy Review was completed

*header image taken from https://www.s-ge.com/en/company/swiss-business-hub-hong-kong

Here is the fourth and final part of the PUV Modernization plan as proposed by the Department of Transportation, and related agencies such as LTFRB and DILG. The office had recently taken the Session 2 Workshop of the LPTRP wherein the compositions of the plan document were discussed in detail. I might need to have a separate blog post for that.

Special Loan Program – Land Bank & DBP

Financial Viability

20% Increase in Vehicle Capacity
From the current 16-18 passengers, the new units can accommodate 22 passengers, some units with
provision for standing passengers. Increase in capacity entail an increase in income.

43% Decrease in Fuel Expenses
Improved Fuel Economy, from the current 5.70km/L to 10.05km/L for the new Euro4 units.

Efficiency Savings Due to Rationalized Routes
Determining Routes and the appropriate number of units based on passenger demand.

Efficiency Savings Due to Industry Consolidation
1.Organized Dispatching System and Fleet Management
2. Consolidation allows the spreading of Capital Expenses and Operating Expenses as well as Maintenance Costs.
3. Consolidated entities can access discounts in fuel and spare parts

Vehicle Useful Life Program

Objective: To ensure that the old public utility vehicles are surrendered and effectively scrapped.

Old PUV –> Scrapping Facility (Regional) –> Additional Financing

Inter-Agency Program
Supporting policies on roadworthiness. – DOTr, LTO, LTFRB, DTI
Blacklisting of the chassis and engine – DOTr, LTO, LTFRB
To assist in the accreditation process and monitoring of scrapping companies – DENR, DOST
All scrapping operations are to be handled by the private sector.

Stakeholder Support Mechanism
Driver’s Academy to be implemented by LTFRB in cooperation with LTO and TESDA
o Public transport drivers need to be certified with NC3

TESDA training programs to be availed of:
o Mechanics Training
o Customer Service Officer
o Fare Collection Staff (fare card selling and reloading)
o Safety Inspector

Other Programs to be linked:
o DOLE’s DILEEP (Integrated Livelihood & Emergency Employment)
o DSWD Sustainable Livelihood Program
o DTI’s Microfinance/SME Devt

Communication

Over-all Implementation Plan

Partners of the PUV Modernization Program

Benefits of the Program

Congestion reduction esp. in highly urbanized areas:
Before: Traffic, Disorganized, competitive
After: transit-oriented, order, more mobility options; time savings; vehicle operating cost savings.

Improved public transport level of services, passenger and commuter welfare
Before: unsafe, uncomfortable, unreliable, difficult to access with most commuters complaining. Air pollution and health hazards.
After: Safe, efficient, comfortable, environment-friendly, Clean Air Act compliant vehicles, Rationalized routes, Intelligent Transport system

Improved welfare for the transport sector
Before: Drivers subjected to health risks, cash=strapped, untrained, tied with the boundary system
After: Adequate training, assured of regular income, improved fleet management and safety, access to credit facilities and financing, shared operating and maintenance costs.

PUV Modernization will engage the local manufacturing industry creating more jobs/employment.

The modernized fleet will produce significantly less carbon dioxide and particulate matter emissions thereby reducing both environmental and social costs (health).

I am back home in Iloilo after the International Conference on Urban and Regional Planning 2018 held in Manila last Wednesday to Thursday. It was exhausting yet enjoyable in the aspect of learning from the researches presented in the various sectors of sustainability. What I enjoyed the most was the researches of the Sustainable Transportation category in particular the ones presented by the delegates of Xavier University in Cagayan de Oro. It was very relatable to the traffic situation here in Iloilo city and also I got to learn more ideas on how to address these.

What is exhausting in our part was the flight schedule that we took. To be specific, it was the first flight to Manila for the day and directly into the event venue. Obviously we lacked sleep as we had to get up early to prepare and be at the airport by 4am. Listening to the morning presentors already got me snoozing every now and then and it got worse in the afternoon. Good thing the transportation researches got my attention and that I was able to record one talk and forum discussion.

The flight back to Iloilo was scheduled the night after the second day of the conference. It was again expected to be tiring though we were able to drop by the airport earlier because of perceived traffic. We took our dinner there and waited for the boarding time. It was, however, one hour delayed and we were able to fly at around 11:45pm. I arrived at the bhaus at 1:00am. Lesson learned. Our next booking would be a day earlier so we could get enough rest and sleep. I might need to add that to my reminders.

As of this posting, our research group in P299 will need to review our objectives again and adjust our Review of Related Literature so as to correct it and be adjacent to Chapter 1. I also needed to write that Theoretical framework again. I have the rest of the night for the writing period.

I guess I’ll have to wrap this up for now and so just stay tuned for a detailed recap of my ICURP 2018 experience.

Qualitative research is a means for exploring and understanding the meaning individuals or groups ascribe to a social or human problem. The process of research involves emerging questions and procedures, data typically collected in the participant’s setting, data analysis inductively building from particulars to general themes, and the researcher making interpretations of the meaning of the data. The final written report has a flexible structure. Those who engage in this form of inquiry support a way of looking at research that honors an inductive style, a focus on individual meaning. and the importance of rendering the complexity of a situation (adapted from Creswell. 2007).

Quantitative research is a means for testing objective theories by examining the relationship among variables. These variables, in turn, can be measured typically on instruments, so that numbered data can be analyzed using statistical procedures. The final written report has a set structure consisting of introduction, literature and theory, methods, results, and discussion (Creswell. 2008). Like qualitative researchers, those who engage in this form of inquiry have assumptions about testing theories deductively, building in protections against bias, controlling for alternative explanations, and being able to generalize and replicate the findings.

Mixed methods research is an approach to inquiry that combines or associates both qualitative and quantitative forms. It involves philosophical assumptions, the use of qualitative and quantitative approaches, and the mixing of both approaches in a study. Thus. it is more than simply collecting and analyzing both kinds of data; it also involves the use of both approaches in tandem so that the overall strength of a study is greater than either qualitative or quantitative research (Creswell & Plano Clark. 2007).

*quoted from the book Research Design, Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches by John W. Creswell

‘Post-colonialism’ as a theory is used by many authors to illustrate the urban phenomenon occurring in the cities around the world in the recent past. By King’s definition, the term post-colonial cities refers to those capitals or major cities of the one-time imperial metropoles, such as Paris, London, Birmingham, or Amsterdam. He also considered postcolonial a term used to describe the way a city is understood and represented.

King distinguishes between imperialism and colonialism as imperialism being the hegemony of one state on the other and colonialism being what happened in the colonies resulting from the economic, political and cultural control and domination. He discussed the dual city phenomenon in the cities with the colonial past and provides a distinct meaning to the ‘post-colonial’ by distinguishing it from the ‘post-imperial’ and associating it with the European cities which once were the centers of their empires.

Postcolonial Identity

There is an emphasis with regards to the distinctive impact which colonialism has had on the economy, society, culture, spatial form, and architecture of the city. The nature of what is post-colonial about the post-colonial city can be radically different in different places and at different times. [The post-colonial city] must always be elicited on the basis of the specific historical, cultural, and political circumstances in which each post-colonial city exists. The argument here is whether the cities will remain on the colonial past and its aftermath. As King says, the ‘postcolonial’ is an outsider’s rather than an insider’s label and ‘in this sense, the postcolonial can carry the meaning of the failure of decolonization’. The question here though is whether a once colonized city is destined to remain forever post-colonial or whether it is possible for cities like Hong Kong and Singapore to gradually transform into global city and get rid of the label ‘post-colonial’. For the Philippines, being occupied and a colony of Spain for more than three decades, we can site a few failures in terms of cultural influences and economic as the colonizers didn’t acted much in the development of the cities in the country. There might still be a chance for improvement economically but the brand of being a post-colonial country is difficult to take away.

Reference: King, A. D. (2009). Postcolonial cities. Retrieved from https://booksite.elsevier.com/brochures/hugy/SampleContent/Postcolonial-Cities.pdf

John Glasson, one of the authors of the book Urban Planning, is Professor of Environmental Planning and Co-Director of the Oxford Institute for Sustainable Development (OISD) at Oxford Brookes University. He is also Visiting Professor at Curtin University in Western Australia. His research includes regional planning, impact assessment and sustainable development.

His definition of Planning is that Planning is a sequence of actions which are designed to solve problems in the future. That means a certain number of goal or goals in which a series of solutions or systems are to be designed in order to achieve it. Time horizon of the future varies according to the type and level of planning. This somehow correlates with what the other authors have stated on the definition of planning.

It is not only the concept of a future long-term plan but also basing the plan on the current situation and problems of the city or community. For Glasson, the planning problems tend to be of social and economic nature. This is mostly true with developing countries. The problems and issues that arise along with the development of the city in which mostly involved are the people, the workforce and the community. Each of these should be conducted an assessment to be able to detail and gauge the real situation and on what is really going on.

The next step then is to align the planning principles to the current Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with relation to the social and economic institutions, even on for example, just the focus on eliminating poverty by creating more job opportunities for the residents.

One local example is the proposed rehabilitation of the Averalo Children’s Playground Re-landscaping Project, in which a consultative meeting with concerned barangay captains, Sta Filomena Day Care Center, and personnel from CSWDO & CEO will be conducted. The goal is not only to renovate and beautify the place but also to promote it as a location for the community’s social interaction with children accompanied by adults. This in turn, could also be the opportunity of small businesses to sell street foods and other goodies in an allocated portion of the park or along its border. That is an additional income source for both the people and the Barangay.

To conclude, Glasson promotes the principle of sustainable approach to development via people and community-focus and a more cohesive society.

The term Third World is used in reference to “the developing countries of Asia, Africa, and Latin America”. The term usually suggests poverty and low level of industrial development and thus it is the opposite of the term developed nations.

Almost half of the world’s countries are under the category of Developing or Least Developed countries including the Philippines. With the past influences being a colony of Spain, United States, and a little of Japan, the country still continues to struggle in its economy with almost a decade since its independence. We can say that a few important factors are affecting this and being a Third World country has these common characteristics in its cities.

Under Mercantile Colonialism Policies. Aside from the economic structure, the influence of Spain in the traits of most of Filipinos had a somewhat negative effect. The focus is on exportation and not on the maximization of natural resources that the country has. This then results to a rapid urbanization in most of the cities.

Rapid Urbanization. People tend to go into the cities for more work opportunities rather than stay in the farms in the countryside/provinces. They then suffer a low level and inadequate living standards just to gain a stable and maybe a reasonable income for them. With the small elites living in big towns and cities, a majority of them owning and handling major businesses and enterprises,the gap between the rich and the poor within the individual LDCs continues to grow.

Informal Economy. With the lack of job opportunities suited for people with skills, some tend to just accept the work even with inadequate employment conditions such as below minimum wage, unsafe working environment, and no employee benefits. This in effect causes low levels of labor productivity.

Youthful Age Structure. The young age population with almost 40% of the total population can cause deficit in the production and labor force of the city. Most of them tend to consume than to produce.

Informal Settlements. Overcapacity in the living/housing areas in the city results in informal settlements to cater to the rest of the low-living population. With an estimated 25% of the world’s urban population living in informal settlements, most of these were either unemployed or engaged in the informal economy. Urban conflicts and crimes usually occur within or near these areas.

Vulnerability to Disasters and Health Risks. The Third World countries not only have low per capita incomes but also have to fight a battle against malnutrition, diseases ill-health etc., and protect their population against natural disasters such as typhoons and earthquakes. The most vulnerable are again the population in the informal settlement areas.

Recipients of approaches, knowledge, and technologies from more-developed nations. Probably the one major good thing that the developed countries give to us is the LDCs. These nations under certain agencies conduct major projects related to the economic, social, and infrastructure benefits of the cities, especially helping in the development of low-living areas.

This is now the major challenge to the urban and environmental planners on how to devise and formulate plans to encourage sustainable development in the cities. That is not only the application of theories based on the concepts and references but also on the development of policies in relation to the current situation and based on the data gathered. That might need a lot of manpower and resources but I think that this bottom-up approach is more effective in knowing the scenario and needs of let’s say a certain barangay. One of which that we did last time in the office was the Barangay Disaster Risk Assessment survey wherein we gathered data on the disaster preparedness of each of the 180 Barangays in Iloilo City. Acting upon the situation is the first step and then later on is the formulation of a long-term action plan so that the solutions can be monitored and maintained.

These along with the political will of the legislators in the conversion and implementation of the state policies can be a major drive to a more sustainable and developed city.

The term, also simply known as Land Use Plan, by a general definition is a document designed to guide the future actions of a community. It presents a vision for the future, with long-range goals and objectives for all activities that affect the local government. It is then detailed or categorized by creating a guide on how to make decisions on public and private land development proposals. It ranges from land use optimization, creation and implementation of policies and the proper expenditure of public funds. Most of these plans have a range of activities within a 10 to 20 year period and is constantly reviewed and updated.

The CLUP has 12 main steps and these are:

1. Getting Organized. That is assembling the team that will be handing the creation of the CLUP. The core group includes personnel from the Local Planning Development Office, Local Environment and Natural Resources Office, Local Disaster Risk and Management Office, and Local Treasurer and Budget Office. Each roles and responsibilities are then defined. The work program, budget, and approval of proposals are also discussed in this step.

2. Identifying the Stakeholders. It starts with conducting a workshop to identify the stakeholders with the plan objectives at hand. That is, listing the interest groups and individuals. The action plan and strategy approaches are then formulated.

3. Visioning. Refining and adoption of the vision of the city or community. This unites the LGU and stakeholders into achieving a common direction of development.

4. Analyzing the Situation. The present situation and needs should be analyzed in order to determine if it is still in par with the projected needs of the community. The analysis can be based on the current data gathered, records and publications from the LGU and stakeholders.

5. Setting the Goals and Objectives. This step is the formulation of achievable goals and objectives and is then detailed by category/indicators and within the time frame of the CLUP.

6. Establish Developmental Tasks and Spatial Strats. This step of the process is to generate development options and selection of appropriate spatial strategies that are derived from the vision, goals and objectives stated in the earlier step.

7. Preparing the Land Use Plan. The vision, goals and objectives along with the development thrust and strategies are translated into the land use plan.

8. Drafting the Zoning Ordinance. This along with other ordinance will complement the implementation of the CLUP. Zones are identified including the division of the community into districts such as the residential, industrial, commercial, and etc. the use and development are then maximized and regulated based on the land use plan.

9. Conduct Public Hearing. Public Hearing and consultation is important in the refining of the CLUP and ZO. This is to encourage ownership and gain support from the public.

10. Review and Approval. This step is on the reviewing of the CLUP consistency to the level of provincial, regional and national perspective. The additional recommendations will have to be integrated before it can be approved.

11. Implementing CLUP/ZO. The LGU and co-management is now conducting the actual implementation of the plan in this step. Establish of the cooperation and partnership between the involved agencies is also important.

12. Monitor, Review and Evaluate. The goat is to assess effectiveness of the plan, the impact of land development and ensure completion of programs and projects in the plan.