LAND USE PLAN. The municipal hall of Pagsanghan in Samar. The town is one of the 20 local government units in Eastern Visayas without a Comprehensive Land Use Plan, according to the Department of Human Settlement and Urban Development. (Photo courtesy of Pagsanghan local government)
TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Human Settlement and Urban Development (DHSUD) reiterated its call for the 20 local government units (LGUs) in Eastern Visayas to draft their Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) to regulate the allocation of land resources.
The majority of these LGUs without CLUP are in Samar province, while some are in the provinces of Eastern Samar, Northern Samar, Southern Leyte and Leyte, said Anna Marie Camille Bantaculo, chief of the DHSUD regional environment, land use and urban planning and development division.
These LGUs are San Sebastian, Tagapul-an, Matuguinao, San Jose de Buan, Santo Niño, Pinabacdao, Pagsanghan, Talalora, Zumarraga and Almagro.
Others on the list are San Ricardo and San Francisco in Southern Leyte; Mayorga in Leyte; General Macarthur, Giporlos and Jipapad in Eastern Samar; and Mapanas, Silvino Lobos, Capul and San Antonio in Northern Samar.
The DSHUD deployed staff in Samar province to determine what assistance they could provide in formulating their CLUPs.
The department provides technical assistance to local governments such as training, mentoring and coaching activities to capacitate officials on data gathering, writing and analysis for CLUP formulation.
“CLUP is not an ordinary document that can be finished or completed in one month. Prior to formulating it, you need to conduct hazard assessment, risk assessment and sectoral studies like health services, commercial areas, agricultural areas, water and forest use,” Bantaculo said.
“Since this is a 10-year development plan, we also assist LGUs in their development framework, land use plan, and then its translation to a zoning ordinance,” she added.
A CLUP refers to the document formulated by the local government in consultation with its stakeholders defining or providing guidelines on the allocation, utilization, development, and management of all lands within a given territory or jurisdiction, including municipal waters.
The plan includes spatial maps and comprehensive data that will serve as a basis for LGUs when preparing sectoral and development plans.
The Local Government Code of 1991 mandates its preparation.
Citing studies, DHSUD said that among the common reasons why many LGUs have no CLUPs are budget constraints, absence of a geographic information system specialist in their area, multi-tasking or overload of tasks in the municipal planning and development office, and insufficient qualified staff.
Of the 143 LGUs in Eastern Visayas, 123 have CLUPs and 53 areas have updated plans. Plans formulated 10 years ago are considered outdated. (PNA)
