Moving towards a critical transitory period, Philippines is progressively pulling off a significant growth in its socio-economic undertakings. Despite these crucial years the Aquino administration had been through, it is a valuable reward to see how the country advances to a more superior disposition.
Among the highlights of the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) under the current leadership is the implementation of public policies for Comprehensive Land Use Programs, in relation with the improved approaches for disaster management.
Since PNoy administration focuses on establishing a sustainable economy capable of safeguarding natural resources, land-use planning is foreseen as an effective scheme in managing land development under the Philippine jurisdiction and designing risk reduction action plans to prevent hazards from taking place, particularly in times of calamities.
However, to uphold these comprehensive programs effectively, a bilateral effort must be done between the national and local government.
Local government units (LGUs) must not only provide policy plans that generate sustainable municipality development and poverty reduction. Rather, to a certain extent, strategies, anchored on the national agenda, should be mutually supportive to the objective of avoiding land-use conflicts and shunning from vulnerability during environmental adversities.
While efforts are done in local areas, a more crucial and significant step is being done by the national government – the evaluation of the undertakings made by the collective effort of LGUs in the country.
It is for this reason that LGUs are strongly encouraged to draft designs uplifting proper utilization of lands and rational urban development. Build a community that does not only provide basic need to its inhabitants, but a society where natural resources are drawn appropriately.
After all, we still have a long road ahead of us. The realization of comprehensive land-use programs and risk reduction plans is a shared responsibility of the national and local government.
Government executives and administration – whether on national or local level – are ought to play key roles, so that, when unlikely things happen unexpectedly while executing these programs, blame should not be consigned to external forces. (Lorie Gene Cruz – The Raconteur)
The Raconteur 