COTABATO CITY – Several personnel from the Ministry of Human Settlements and Development (MHSD) have undergone a 5-day training on the formulation of Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) to further enhance their capacities in assisting local government units on the efficient implementation of their CLUPs.
The training, held last week February 1-5 in Lake Sebu, South Cotabato, was sponsored by The Asia Foundation (TAF).
According to MHSD Chief Administrative Officer Nomaire Madid, CLUP is a concrete plan meant to guide the LGUs in strategizing the development in their respective areas, particularly on optimizing their proper use of land resources for the construction of schools, housing projects, commercial buildings, agriculture infrastructure, and many more.
Section 20 of R.A. 7160 or The Local Government Code of 1991 states that “The local government units shall, in conformity with existing laws, continue to prepare their respective comprehensive land use plans enacted through zoning ordinances which shall be the primary and dominant bases for the future use of land resources.”
Madid said the CLUP must be approved by the Sangguniang Bayan for enactment into a zoning ordinance.
Resource speakers on the training included Engr. Rahib Labay, TAF Capacity Development Officer Rahib Nando, and MHSD Housing and Homesite Regulation Officer Engr. Muslima Abusama.
The training focused on the overview of CLUP, with emphasis on its 12 planning processes and its core components such as settlement, infrastructure, production, and protection. Several assessments and reports on how other regions planned and implemented their CLUPs were also presented to the participants.
MHSD Minister Atty. Hamid Aminoddin D. Barra said the activity “manifests the essence of our leadership as we are in the position to help them with excellence, and for the LGUs and their constituents to benefit from constructive and not destructive programs and projects.”
TAF Country Representative Sam Chittick, in a video message, congratulated the participants for completing the 5-day training. He also listened and responded to some of the trainees’ impressions and queries.
Also present during the training were MHSD’s Deputy Minister Atty. Jose I. Lorena, Director General Esmael W. Ebrahim, and representatives from the LGU of Balindong Municipality in Lanao del Sur province. (Bangsamoro Information Office/Photo courtesy of MHSD)
