W. Visayas LGUs urged to update comprehensive land use plans

Local government units in Western Visayas are encouraged to update their respective Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP), which covers 10 years. 'CLUP is very important. It shapes the direction of an LGU. It is good if it is updated,' said Environmental Planner Eva Maria P. Marfil, regional director of the Department of Human Settlement and Urban Development (DGSUD) Western Visayas, during the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas on Tuesday. She said the highly urbanized cities of Iloilo and Bacolod have updated CLUPs, while Negros Occidental has an updated provincial development and physical framework plan. Marfil said their office has been conducting capacity-building training to help LGUs update their CLUP. This year, 90 of the 139 LGUs in the region have availed of the training, She said 126 LGUs also availed of technical assistance in monitoring their land use changes and implementing CLUPs and Zoning Ordinances. 'We would like to emphasize that once the CLUP of an LGU has expired, it doesn't mean their zoni ng ordinance is no longer operational. It will be enforced until the CLUP is updated,' she said. She added that while there is no sanction for LGUs that could not update their CLUP, doing so would make them eligible to join the Seal of Good Local Governance of the Department of the Interior and Local Government. In February this year, DHSUD launched its Planado Program, aimed at providing a comprehensive and holistic approach to building and strengthening LGU capacity in the formulation, implementation, and monitoring of their CLUP and other urban development initiatives. By 2028, Planado targets to eliminate backlogs in CLUPs for all local LGUs in 2028. Source: Philippines News Agency