On Land Use Planning

Land Use Planning

Land use planning refers to the proper use and management of land resources, which aims to promote the interest and welfare of today’s generation and beyond. In this respect, the State regulates the use of land resources to ensure that land’s natural qualities as well as the general welfare of human beings and other life forms that depend on land, are not jeopardized, but instead, are enhanced (Serote, 1992). Land use planning is therefore a political act of crafting public policy with regard to the “acquisition, ownership, use and disposition of property” towards the promotion of the general welfare or public interest (1987 Philippine Constitution, Art. XIII, Sec. 1).

According to Serote, land use planning consists of technical, political and ideological dimensions (1992). The technical dimension deals with the approaches, methods and techniques applied to determine what a given parcel of land can support without damaging the land itself. Meanwhile, the political aspect relates to the development of policies, guidelines and criteria for proper management of land, including the commitment and capability to implement them. The ideological dimension gives emphasis on the underlying philosophy of land that is grounded on the value the society attaches to land, the notion of land as a property, and the role of the State in the overall regulation of land.

It has been observed that the convergence of the three dimensions results in effective land use planning. As Serote has put it, “land use planning must be seen as essentially a political act of translating social values into social goals and policies, and specifying the technical parameters and criteria for achieving those social goals (1992).


Land Use Planning Process

The interplay of the three dimensions is manifested in the land use planning process (whether comprehensive or sustainable) which involves the following steps:

1) Data collection and inventory;
2) Inter- and Intra-area analysis;
3) Goals/objectives setting;
4) Generation of alternative spatial strategies;
5) Evaluation and selection of preferred strategy;
6) Detailing of the chosen strategy;
7) Formulation of policies and implementation tools;
8) Plan adoption and legitimization; and
9) Implementation, monitoring and feedback.

Data collection and inventory. Relevant and accurate data are needed for a planning activity to be effective. Once the data have been gathered and organized, a planning database should be established. In land use planning, the database should include socioeconomic data which are vital inputs to the preparation of the usual Socioeconomic Profile. It would also be of great help in the preparation of an Ecological Profile if biophysical attributes of an area are stored and regularly updated in the planning database.

Inter- and Intra-area Analysis. This is done to comprehend the area both in its entirety and in terms of its component parts. This involves the preparation of a statistical compendium where several areas are compared in terms of their performance against a given indicator. The output of this is a summary of constraints and bottlenecks, possible conflicts arising from overlapping uses of, interests on, and claims over land resources, and the amount and location of lands available for future expansion.

Goals and objectives setting. This is a good venue where the collective aspirations of the people are translated into a vision and mission statements. The vision and mission statements are usually derived from the people through public consultations, from the pronouncement of elected officials, from relevant national policies, and from the result of the analysis of the area.

Generation of alternative spatial strategies. This is done by taking into account the presence of physical and policy constraints that put limits to where human settlements could be located, and the ease or difficulty of changing the existing locational pattern as shaped by the past.

Evaluation and selection of preferred strategy. This involves the application of various techniques such as cost-benefit analysis, planning balance sheet, goal achievement matrix, among others. The strategy which will likely generate the highest net benefit is chosen.

Detailing of the chosen strategy. This involves the preparation of a schematic diagram to accompany the selected strategy. The diagram is put into a firm spatial shape that will guide and control the location of infrastructure projects, the direction and intensity of urban development, and the location of special action areas.

Formulation of policies and implementation tools. This completes the preparation of plan document. Policies that are usually formulated deal with settlements, infrastructure, and land use to guide the future development of various sections of a locality. Implementing mechanisms such as sectoral planning and programming are identified in the plan.

Plan adoption and legitimization. This part of the planning process is when the local government gives it commitment to implement the plan. This is supported by public consultations and approval of the legislative body.

Implementation, monitoring, and feedback. This part is an essential link to the next cycle of planning. The outputs of this are to be used as bases for plan revision, amendment, or replanning.

It must be noted that public consultations need to be conducted in certain stages of the planning process.


Comprehensive Land Use Planning Process

The Comprehensive Land Use Plan is one of the most important planning documents of local government units in the Philippines. Under the Local Government Code of 1991, LGUs are mandated to prepare CLUPs for the most rational and effective use of land resources. The CLUP is the ultimate output of a CLUP Process.

The CLUP Process, which follows the land use planning process presented earlier, puts emphasis on the proactive participatory consultation and socioeconomic concerns. As such, during the process, particularly in the formulation of policies, the Barangay Development Plans, which provide opportunities for barangay communities to influence the nature, scale, and future quality of their living environment, are consolidated and integrated in the CLUP. Its purpose is to provide a comprehensive development framework that will guide a particular LGU towards the achievement of the community’s and stakeholders’ aspirations to an improved quality of life.


Sustainable Land Use Planning Process

Recently, concerns on land use planning tend to be not just towards development, community participation and empowerment but also towards sustainability. Thus, the term sustainable land use planning is adopted to refer to “the rational and judicious development, utilization and management of land resources in a sustainable manner, to ensure that the needs of the present generation are met without compromising the needs of future generation” (Guidebook on the Preparation of SLUP, 1997).

The SLUP Process is somehow similar to the CLUP Process, but with additional features. The following features, however, differentiate SLUP from CLUP Process:

Preparation of an Ecological Profile as the basis for land use plan preparation (Socioeconomic Profile in CLUP Process);
Integration of sustainable development principles and parameters in land use planning which include the following: economic viability, ecological viability, technological viability, political viability, cultural viability and institutional viability;
Adoption of other tools and methods in land use analysis;
Adoption of the ecosystem-based approach in planning the detailed land uses for agriculture, forest and coastal lands; and
Inclusion of environmental management and natural resources conservation on equal footing with socioeconomic concerns.

It must be noted that the SLUP Process deals with long term physical framework planning since the end goal is sustainable development.


Final Note

The people, in general, should take the lead in maintaining and improving land and natural resources primarily because it is these resources that sustain their lives. This calls for effective land use planning with the State and the people. Land use planning must not only be comprehensive but also be sustainable – one that can meet the needs of the present and future generation – and this can only be undertaken with the harmonious convergence of its technical, political, and ideological dimensions.


References

1997. Guidebook on the Preparation of Sustainable Land Use Plan. Vol. I. Sustainable Development Models and Systems Subprogramme (SDMS). Integrated Environmental Management for Sustainable Development (IEMSD) Programme.

1987. Philippine Constitution.

2001. Planning Strategically. Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board.

1992. Serote, Ernesto. “Review and Prospects for Land Use Planning in the Philippines under the 1991 Local Government Code” in A Study of Regional and Local Planning System Bk. II. LDAP Project No. 492-0436. USAID/Philippines.