SHDA seeks broader representation in land use planning

MANILA, Philippines - Land use planning, in the latest version of the proposed National Land Use and Management Act (NLUMA), calls for more multi-sectoral representation and input, including technical experts and experienced planners and operators.

 With the country reeling from natural disasters, endless traffic bottlenecks, increased squatting and floods, the expertise of urban planners, developer, experienced planning engineers, and logistics experts in land use and physical planning are vital to environmental sustainability and national productivity.

 National land use should also balance the use and considerations of land for residential, commercial, tourism, logistics, education, parks, and other community needs and visions, and not be defined necessarily by just a single use or sector consistently as the highest priority.

 The Subdivision and Housing Association (SHDA), the country’s largest association of private developers, proposes the above good land use planning which requires increasing private sector and multi-industry/stakeholder involvement in the government and inter-agency committees, meetings, evaluation processes and land use bodies outlined in some of the bill’s current versions.

 There are two pending versions of the National Land Use Bill, namely HB 108 and 3122, wherein both seek to manage and develop the country’s land and water resources.  Both   also look at maintaining and preserving environmental stability, sustainable use of natural resources, disaster risk reduction and climate risk-based planning, among a number of goals. 

 The bills will create a number of planning bodies to achieve these goals, including the National Land Use Policy Council (NLUPC), deemed the highest policy-making body for land use. 

 This body at the national level will be composed of several cabinet members and agency heads, and eight sectoral representatives from the urban poor, peasants, fisherfolk and indigenous peoples, as part of the basic sectors directly involved in land use but no representation from business.

 â€œThe bill gives too few, and even no representation in certain instances, from much-needed business and technical and other sectors who should be able to share their inputs,” said Paul Tanchi, SHDA president. “To ensure a more practical, efficient and balanced land use planning, all  significant  stakeholders including the developers, private professional planning and business sectors and others must be represented.”

 SHDA has recommended involving technical and multi-industry representatives from tourism, retail, education, services, local business and even parks planners.

 â€œThe active participation of people’s organizations and other stakeholders who can contribute their expertise, experience and technical, social and commercial know-how will help create sound land use policies that will be beneficial to all,” added Tanchi.

 SHDA said it fully supports the passage of the bill, its environmental planning, its consideration of agriculture and social-concern thru representatives, but has proposed a few enhancements.  Aside from increasing private sector involvement in land use planning, the developers group has also recommended that on top of the visionary time frame of 30 years.

“Aside from increasing private sector involvement in land use planning, we also recommend that on top of the visionary time frame of 30 years, we need a time frame of 10 years for implementation work plans for the National Physical Framework Plan, with five-year reviews for adjustments where warranted, and the inclusion of the Anti-Red Tape Law in getting clearances for land development. Penalties should deter abuses and negligences but not be disproportionate or counter sound practical policy,” said George Siy, SHDA board governor-legislative concerns.

 The two pending bills were the subject of a technical working group meeting under the Special Committee on Land Use. 

 â€œWe will all need to make our inputs known to help craft a land use planning structure good for the most number in our country, in a sustainable way, for decades to come.  Given the open exchange and open minded approach of the sectors in the last Technical Working Group, this bill’s outcome may yet become a landmark in the way  government, private sectors and NGOs/people’s organization  may work together towards the good of all and the country,” added Siy.