LAND USE PLAN. Photo shows a copy of the Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) 2015-2024 of the municipality of Itogon, which was adopted by the Benguet Provincial Board and released to media on Thursday (March 15, 2018). (Photo by Primo Agatep)
LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- The Provincial Board of Benguet has approved the Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) of Itogon, one of the 13 municipalities of this vegetable-producing upland province.
Provincial Resolution No. 198-121, a copy of which was obtained on Thursday, has been issued under the title, “An Ordinance adopting and approving the updated Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) of the Municipality of Itogon for the period of 2015-2024”.
The resolution stated its support for the town’s zoning ordinance, demography, physical characteristics, sectoral studies, and special areas.
“Upon review by the Sanggunian of the updated CLUP of the Municipality of Itogon and taking into consideration the review and recommendation of the Provincial Land Use Plan of this Province, it found said CLUP to be valid and appropriate,” the resolution read.
The land use policy serves as a framework to address land use issues and gives guidance for shaping the appearance of a community towards economic development, as well as to balance the ecological make-up of this largely mining town.
Itogon, composed of nine villages, has a total land area of 49,800 hectares, which is roughly 18.75 percent of Benguet’s total land area of 265,540 hectares.
The municipality is a premier mining town because of its abundant mineral resources.
Among the mining companies that operate in the town are Philex Mines, Balatoc Mines, and other Benguet corporation mining areas. Several small-scale mining operators are also in town.
It also hosts the Binga Hydroelectric Plant owned and operated by SN Aboitiz Power, a subsidiary of Aboitiz Power.
The Agno River, the third largest river system in Luzon and the fifth in the entire Philippines, runs through the municipality of Itogon. (PNA)
