BY: FERLIZA C. CONTRATISTA
CEBU CITY, May 22 (PIA) --- Planners from local government units (LGUs) successfully held their 25th national convention in Cebu City with over 800 attendees.
The officials and organizers of the 25th national convention of the League of Local Planning and Development Coordinators of the Philippines Inc. (LLPDCPI) said this was so far the highest number of participants they have had in their annual gathering.
In the convention, the local planners had speakers with topics relevant to their practice in promoting smart LGUs.
Engr. Christine Homez, provincial head of LLPDCPI and Talisay City Planning and Development Officer (CPDO), said the smart principle is the new trend principle considering that one has to adapt to the fast changing community and environment.
Homez said planning according to smart growth principles include mix land uses; building of well designed compact neighborhoods; provision of variety of transportation choices; diverse housing opportunities; encouragement of growth in existing communities; preservation of open spaces and environmentally sensitive areas; protection and enhancement of agricultural lands; and use of green buildings.
Evelyn Nacario, executive director of Eduardo Aboitiz Studies Center, presented to the group the strong collaboration between the private sector and the local government of the province in the establishment of Mega Cebu.
“Cebu is not dependent to the national government because we have inter local coordination between the local government and a vibrant private sector,” Nacario said.
The group also learned how Cebu easily coped with last year’s disasters from the head of Task Force Paglig-on, Mr. Baltazar Tribunalo Jr.
Tribunalo shared inputs in building resilient communities and integrating disaster and climate change adaptation to rehabilitation and recovery.
There were also inputs on latest technology applied by the City Traffic Operations Management (CITOM) and the importance of having a trusted information system by Geo Data Systems.
Genevieve Yanga, national president of LLPDCPI, said they made sure that the attendees are reminded of their crucial role in the safekeeping and development of the LGU.
“Failing to plan is like planning to fail,” Yanga said.
In today’s last day of the convention, the group were treated to a mini-version of the popular “Suroy-Suroy Sugbo” southern leg covering two cities and two towns.
They went to Carcar City, famous for chicharon and shoe manufacturing; Argao for its torta, heritage sites and tableya and to the miraculous shrine of the Our Lady of Simala in Sibonga.
The group capped their tour with a dinner at the Talisay City Hall grounds, where they got to taste the famous lechon. (rmn/fcc/PIA-Cebu)