THE NEED TO PLAN LOCAL DEVELOPMENT

Objectives

1. To identify the need to undertake Local Development Planning.

2. To understand the significance of Planning Local Development.
3. To identify the Legal Basis of Planning

The Need to Undertake Local Development Planning

The law was conceived for the following goals: to develop self-reliant and vibrant
communities; and to speed up development of the countryside.

Planning is an integral part of local governance. The need to plan lies on the need to
implement the full implications of the Local Government Code of 1991. The planning function
of LGUs is imbedded in the dual personality of an LGU.

1. Political Unit – LGUs, as a political unit of the national government, are in in charge of
the management of its entire geographical territory for an in behalf of the national
government.
2. Corporate Body - LGUs are responsible for representing its inhabitants, delivering basic
services and facilities to enable its inhabitants to develop fully into self-reliant
communities, and promoting general welfare among the inhabitants within its territorial
jurisdiction.

LGUS are also required to prepare two plans; the Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP)
and the Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP). CLUP is a plan for proper management of
land resources and on the other hand, CDP is a plan for the promotion of the general welfare of
the local inhabitants. It includes plan for the social, economic, infrastructure and land use,
environmental management, and institutional development.

Overview on the Current State of Local Planning in the Philippines

 Inactive Local Development Council.

 Indifferent or Unsupportive Sanggunian.
 Lack or total absence of vertical linkages.
 Lack or total absence of horizontal linkages among sectoral concerns.

Significance of Planning Local Development

Local Development Plans are where big decisions on planning for the future of
communities and land are made. They set out long-term strategy for the development of the area
covered by each local planning authority.

Development Planning serves as an effective delivery tool and a strategy to provide

direction for physical development and accelerating economic growth. It aims to capture the
aspiration band desire of the citizenry on the type and level of development they want to attain at
a certain time.
Purposes of Development Planning

 To optimize the use of resources at the right time without sacrificing the environment.
 To provide direction in the execution of development programs/projects.
 To ensure citizen’s participation in decision making concerning social and economic
development.
 To respond to the requirements of the LGC.

Legal Basis of Local Development Planning

The highest law of the land or the 1987 Philippine Constitution provided the bases for all
development efforts. The provisions about planning are specifically found in Article II,
Declaration of Principles and State Policies where the preparation of the development plan is
mandated. Among the planning directions implied in the general principles of the Constitution
are as follows:

 Promotion of social justice in all phases of national development (Sec.10)

 Recognition of the vital role of youth in nation-building, encouraging their
involvement in public and civic affairs (Sec. 13)
 Recognition of the role of the women in nation-building (Sec. 14)
 Promotion of the right to health of the people (Sec. 15)
 Advancing the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology (Sec. 16)
 Promotion of the comprehensive rural development and agrarian reform (Sec. 21)

The Local Government Code of 1991 (RA 7160) also provided the following provisions
for planning. And there provisions are as follows:

 The local government units shall, in conformity with existing laws, continue to
prepare their respective comprehensive land use enacted through zoning ordinances
which shall be the primary dominant basis for the future use of land resources. (Sec.
120)
 The Municipal Mayor is mandated to direct the formulation of the Municipal
Development Plan, with the assistance of the Municipal Development Council, upon
the approval thereof by the Sannguniang Bayan implement the same (Sec.44,
subsection 1, paragraph 2)
 Each local government unit shall have comprehensive multi-sectoral development
plan to be initiated by its development council and approved by its Sanggunian (Sec.
106)
 Sangguniang Panlalawigan shall review the Comprehensive Land Use Plans (CLUPs)
and zoning ordinances of component cities and municipalities and adopt a
Comprehensive Provincial Use Plan (CPLUP), subject to the existing laws.

Aside from the 1987 Philippine Constitution and the Local Government Code of 1991,
there are still some legal bases of Local Development Planning and these are the following:

 All government departments, offices, instrumentalities, including the LGUs, are

directed to formulate their respective medium-term plans and public investment
programs for the period of 1993-1998 (Office of the President Memorandum Circular
No. 2, Dated July 17, 1992)
 Malacañang Executive Order No. 72, dated March 25, 1993, mandated the City or
Municipal Development Council to initiate the formulation or updating its land use
plan, in consultation with the concerned sectors in the community.
  Urban Development and Housing Act of 1992 (R.A. 7279)

References

Rationalizing the Local Planning System (RPS), 1st Edition 2008

http/planninghelp.cpre.org.uk

1987 Philippine Constitution, De Leon H.,

Local Government Code of 1991 (RA 7160)