QUEZON CITY – The local government of Quezon City is set to craft policies for urban planning aligned with the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2017-2022.
The LGU’s commitment to craft its City Investment Priorities Plan (CIIP) and amend its City Development Plan (CDP) in view of the PDP comes after a recent economic briefing held for city executives and legislators at SEDA Hotel in Quezon City.
The CIIP is a guide for investors to do business in the Quezon City while the CDP sets out objectives and strategies that address concerns unique to the locality.
While specific details of the CIIP and CDP have yet to be discussed, officials noted that among the sectors that will be highlighted in their plans are transportation, informal settler relocation, environment, and ease of doing business.
NEDA Director Nerrisa Esguerra of the Development Information Staff presented the highlights of AmBisyon Natin 2040, the country’s long-term vision, and the PDP.
In particular, she imparted the importance of the PDP’s National Spatial Strategy (NSS) and its use as a guide for city officials in their planning.
She said that the NSS provides the basis for policies on urban development, infrastructure development, disaster mitigation, and environmental resource protection and conservation.
The NSS has three component strategies. The first one involves the development of regional and sub-regional centers to spread growth outside the National Capital Region.
Strengthening urban-rural linkages is the second strategy to improve the connectivity of growth centers with small areas and form an efficient network—through infrastructure projects and the provision of access to jobs and social services.
The third involves vulnerability reduction that includes the provision of alternate routes to provide access to areas affected by hazards.
Esguerra assured QC officials that aligning local plans with the PDP is a sustainable approach to urban planning, considering that the latter is geared towards AmBisyon Natin 2040.
“We have embarked on our journey to 2040 and we can think of the PDP 2017-2022 as our GPS or navigator – the PDP is geared toward this long-term vision,” Esguerra said.
Mayor Herbert Bautista reiterated his commitment to aligning local plans with the PDP, saying that QC will localize identified national strategies in the city.
“Quezon City is open to efforts to achieve robust economic growth. That is why we give importance to this economic briefing and to applying national government efforts to our city,” he said.
Other speakers present in the event were officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways, the Department of Information and Communications Technology, and the Department of Trade and Industry.
Wednesday’s briefing was organized by the Quezon City Investment Promotions Office.
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