The Regional Development Council VIII-Regional Land Use Committee (RDC VIII-RLUC) reviewed and endorsed two crucial development plans for the region during the Committee’s first semester meeting on 21 April 2021 via Zoom.
The RLUC endorsed the Disaster Risk Reduction/Climate Change Adaptation (DRR/CCA)-enhanced Provincial Development and Physical Framework Plan (PDPFP) of Northern Samar after long discussions among Committee members to ensure the correctness and appropriateness of the document to the needs of the Nortehanons. Following the RLUC endorsement, the PDPFP will now be sent to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Northern Samar for approval and adoption.
The PDPFP is a long-term development plan that identifies the province’s goals, objectives, targets, and strategies which serve as primary inputs to the province’s investment programming process. It serves as the key link between the province’s development objectives and local, regional, and national policies and priorities.
The Committee also endorsed the Master Plan for the Sustainable Urban Infrastructure Development (SUID) of Metro Ormoc. The document aims to guide Ormoc City in building adequate, reliable, and resilient urban infrastructure and enhance the city to become an agro-commercial and industrial gateway and center for renewable energy in the country.
The Master Plan was previously endorsed by the RDC VIII through Resolution No. 07, Series of 2020.
Meanwhile, the DILG VIII presented the status of Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP) preparation in the region. The CDP is a multisectoral plan formulated by cities and municipalities and contains sectoral goals, objectives, development strategies and policies during the term of LGU officials.
Currently, 116 LGUs in the region have CDPs, which comprise 81% of all LGUs in Eastern Visayas. This is a five-percentage points increase compared to the figure in fourth quarter of last year.
On the other hand, DHSUD Regional Director Evelyn A. Bobier presented the status of Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) preparation in the region. The CLUP covers the long-term plan of LGUs on their territory’s physical development.
She reported that 23 LGUs have not formulated their CLUPs; 70 are for updating, meaning that their CLUPs are outdated; and 50 have fully updated CLUPs.
The RLUC meeting was presided by its Chairperson, NEDA VIII Regional Director Bonifacio G. Uy, and attended by representatives from different regional line agencies and local government units and private sector representatives.
Article and Photos by: Knulp Aseo/Grace A. Arteche
