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A. RATIONALE FOR PLANNING
1. Man as the Ultimate Rationale
The Plan Report covers various planning rationale. All these rationale
focus on man as the ultimate rationale. The Development Plan attempts
to enhance man’s quality of life. Moreover, it attempts to
realize the fullness of his resource potential. In all reference
to the fruition of physical man-made resource, the creative ability
of technology and aesthetics and the alteration/utilization of his
environment. The second role is that of an active and dynamic variable
demanding the satisfaction of various human wants.
2. Limited Resources
Had resources been readily available and unlimited, planning would
be superfluity. But resources through time to be limited to satisfy
the ever-increasing resource requirements of man and other resources.
Through this planning activity, proposals are presented for resource
management through rational allocation, judicious utilization, optimum
generation, timely conservation and protection of the resources
of the municipality.
3. Environmental Quality
Land disposition should be tempered by the judicious allocation
and management of habitat. Evaluation of economic returns on output
of technology should consider whatever effluence shall be deleterious
to the ecological balance. As a policy, environmental impact of
any proposal in this Plan is assessed. Among the fundamental proposals
for environmental protection and quality is the orderly utilization
of the land resource, in terms of compatibility and suitability
matrices.
4. Strengthening of Institutional Roles in Planning
Intervention by man through institutions
to determine his aspirations is a recognized need in this plan.
Specifically, the role of local government in local planning is
emphasized in the Plan. Further, the Plan focuses on the municipality
as the basic spatial unit and land building block in planning and
programming.
5. Consistency with National Goals and Policy Guidelines
Through this planning effort, attempt is made to realize and be
consistent with national goals at the municipal level. This is
achieved through consistency of proposals for land use and sectoral
programs and projects with the national development policy guidelines.
B. THE TOWN PLANNING AND ZONING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
The municipality had requested for planning assistance from the
Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB) for Town Replanning
and Rezoning through Sangguniang Bayan (SB) Resolution No. 98-147
dated September 16, 1998. Memorandum agreement (MOA) was subsequently
signed between the municipality and HLRB formally starting the town
replanning and rezoning project of the municipality.
Starting last June 1, 1999, the technical assistance was regularly
provided by HLURB, Region I through its Technical Service Division.
The Municipal Mayor and the Sangguniang Bayan directed the Office
of the Municipal Planning & Development Coordinator to undertake
the replanning of the municipality. Other offices of the Municipal
Government and local offices of national agencies in town were likewise
called on to assist the Local Town Planning Team, particularly in
gathering pertinent data and identification of project proposals
by sector for the next five (5) years period. The Sangguniang Bayan
(Legislative Council), barangay leaders, other local officials and
NGO’s were also frequently consulted regarding the problems/issues
confronting their areas and the proposed solution of the identified
problems/needs.
Moreover, there is the need for replanning in the municipality
to respond and to cope up with unabated changes and development
occurring in the municipality and its neighboring towns.
C. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE TOWN PLAN (Municipal Development
Plan)
The 1994-1998 Town Plan of Alaminos, Pangasinan was prepared with
the technical assistance of the Housing and Land Use Regulatory
Board, Region I, the regulatory arm of the former Ministry of Human
Settlements. Since then, some changes have occurred in the municipality’s
physical, economic, social and political set-up brought about by
the rapid increase of its population, change in national administration,
effects of modernization and technology transfer which are spill-over
effects development in nearby towns and Dagupan City and the effects
of the July 16,1990 earthquake.
These changes prompted the new municipal administration of Mayor
Eduardo “Dong” F. Fontelera to undertake replanning and
rezoning in the municipality for the main purposes of preparing
a new guide towards enhancement of the quality of life of its residents,
realization of the full potential of man as resource, management
of natural and man-made resources and enhancement of environmental
quality through integrated and comprehensive development resources
without endangering the physical environment. It therefore, aims,
not only to improve the socio-economic and political situation of
the municipality, but also to maintain an ecologically sound environment.
Specifically, the Plan attempts to achieve the following objective:
1. To evolve a guide for the provision of livelihood opportunities
and the development of human resources of the municipality;
2. To evolve a guide for the satisfaction of the resident’s
various human, social, political and economic needs;
3. To plan for the rational allocation and judicious utilization
of the various limited resources of the municipality;
4. To plan for the generation of resources that shall be required
for man’s needs and for utilization of other resources;
5. To plan for the conservation and protection of the various
limited resources of the municipality;
6. To plan for the protection and enhancement quality of the
town; and
7. To proposed for the administrative, legal, fiscal and other
measures for the attainment of the goals and objectives of the
Plan.
D. COMPONENTS OF THE TOWN PLAN
The major components of the Plan are as follows:
1. Situational Studies and Projections (Physico-Socio-Economic)
This portion presents the various physical, demographic and sectoral
concerns. Each area or sector presents the existing visavis the
development needs/problems of the sector/area.
2. Objectives Targets Policies
This portion presents the proposed objectives, targets, strategies
and policies of the various areas of concerned based, among others,
on the situational studies and projections. This portion has been
made an integral part of Chapter III.
3. Land Use Plan
This portion of the Town Plan reflects the proposals for the
land uses as reflected in the land-use plan maps and so described
in the text, delineating the locations, areas and pattern prescribed
land uses and allowable uses such as agricultural, residential,
commercial, institutional and other land uses. The Land Use Plan
consists of the plans for the entire municipality.
4. Municipal Development Investment Plan (MDIP)
The MDIP is a listing of programs and projects as:
4.1 Identified/proposed by one entity or group of entities;
and
4.2 Proposals emanating from the identified needs, objectives,
targets, strategies and policies of this planning exercise.
Implementing and financing entities include line agencies, provincial
and municipal government, well as private agencies.
5. Plan Implementing Tools
This portion presents the legal, administrative, fiscal and other
measures for the implementation of the Plan.
6. Formal/Legal Requirements
The town Plan must have a legal requirements such as the Sangguniang
Bayan Resolution adopting the Town Plan. The SB Resolution makes
the Plan an official document. Moreover, it should contain a copy
of the Pangasinan Provincial Land Use Committee Resolution/letter
favorably indorsing the Plan to the Provincial Board/Sangguniang
Panlalawigan for ratification. Finally, a copy of Sangguniang
Panlalawigan Resolution of Approval should be included in the
Plan.
7. Thematic Maps
Analytical/thematic maps are inserted in the Plan for easier
analysis of various physico-socio-economic variables and proposals.
These maps shall serve as Municipal Atlas.
E. PLANNING PERIOD
The town plan covers a time frame of five (5) years commencing
on 1999 to the year 2004. Analysis, projections and plans/proposal
are intended to cover the planning period.
F. LEGAL BASES FOR PLANNING
The following legal bases mandate the local government to prepare
municipal development plans:
1. Book I. Section 106: Local Development Councils
(a) Each local government unit shall have a comprehensive multi-sectoral
development plan to be initiated by its development council
and approved by its sanggunian. For this purpose, the development
council at the provincial, city, municipal or barangay level,
shall assist the corresponding sanggunian in setting the direction
of economic and social development, and coordinating development
efforts within its territorial jurisdiction.
2. Book I. Section 109: Functions of LDC’s
a) The provincial, city and municipal development councils
shall
1. formulate long-term, medium term and annual socio-economic
development plan and policies
2. formulate the medium-term and annual public investments
programs
b) The barangay development council shall exercise the following
function:
1. Prepare barangay development plans based on local requirements
3. Book I. Section 114: Relation of LDC’s to the Sanggunian
and the Regional Development Council (RDC)
a) The policies, programs and projects proposed by local government
councils shall be submitted to the sanggunian for their appropriate
action.
- The local development plan approved by their respective sanggunian
maybe integrated with the development plans of the next higher
level of local development plan council.
b) The approved development plans of provinces, highly urbanized
cities and independent component cities shall be submitted to
the RDC, which shall be integrated into the Regional Development
Plan for submission to the NEDA, in accordance with existing
laws.
4. Book I. Section 115: Budget Information
The DBM shall furnish the LDC’s information on financial
resources and budgetary allocations applicable to their respective
jurisdiction and to guide them in their planning functions.
5. Book II. Section 305: Fundamental Principles (Local Fiscal
Administration)
h) Local budget plans and goals shall, as far as practicable
harmonized with national development plans, goals strategies
in order to optimize the utilization of resources and to avoid
duplication in the use of fiscal resources.
i) Local budgets shall operationalize approved local development
plans.
j) National planning shall be based on local planning to ensure
that the needs and aspirations of the people as articulated
by the local government units in their respective local development
plans are considered in the formulation of budgets of national
line agencies or offices.
6. Book III. Section 384: Role of the Barangay
As the basic political unit, the barangay serves as the primary
planning and implementing unit of government policies, plans,
programs/projects and activities in the community and as a forum
wherein the collective views of the people maybe expressed,
crystallized and considered, and where dispute maybe amicably
settled.
7. Rule XXIV, Art. 410 (IRR): Submission of Local Development
Plan
LDC’s shall submit to the local finance committee a copy
of the local development plan and annual investment program
prepared and approved during the fiscal year before the calendar
year for budget preparation in accordance with applicable laws,
specifying therein projects proposed for inclusion on the local
government budget as well as in the budgets of NGA’s or
GOCC’s concerned.
The local finance committee shall use the plan to ensure that
projects proposed for local funding are included in the budget.
8. Alaminos Sangguniang Bayan Resolution No. 98-147 dated September
16, 1998 mandating the Municipal Planning Team to undertake the
replanning and rezoning of the municipality.
9. DILG Memorandum Circular No. 99-234 dated December 14, 1999.
G. PLAN PREPARATION PROCESS
The Town Plan was prepared based on an established planning process
which follows the sequence of situational studies of resources and
requirements; formulation of objectives, target, strategies and
policies, formulation of land use plans and local development investment
program/project plans; and identification of schemes/tools to institutionalize
the Plan.
1. Basic Situational Studies
The following studies/areas are basic to the formulation of the
Town Plan:
Historical development of the town, physiography, demography
and existing land uses. Historical development study aims at determining
the historical factors that led to the development of the town
in its present state. Particularly, the study aims to trace the
past and existing functional roles of the town in relation to
nearby towns, the province and the region.
Physiography study considers the distribution in space (area)
of various physical characteristics of the town to include among
others, its area and location, climate, topography and bedrock.
The study is as important as the other areas as this determines
the possible resource opportunity for utilization and generation
that need to be conserved, developed and/or protected, as well
as resource development constraints. The study also attempts to
identify man-made and natural risk areas.
Demographic study or the study or people considers man as a resource
and as a demand factor for services/facilities. It includes the
determination of the immediate past, current and projected size,
composition and classification of the population.
Existing land use study is a specialized topographic study of
man’s utilization of land such as agriculture for production,
structure for shelter and activities, roads built for mobility
and other uses. The study aims at determining land area of various
land uses, patterns of land use distribution, compatibility of
various land uses, growth potentials and critical areas for conversations.
2. Sectoral Studies
This portion focuses on the different areas of concern. These
areas/sectors are analyzed by presenting the existing and immediate
past situations and the approximation of a projected future based
on trend and/or interventions. Existing and future needs and resources
are assessed based on the expressed and felt needs of residents.
For town planning purposes, sectors have been grouped as follows:
2.1 Economic– Agriculture, Commerce, Trade/Industry and
Tourism
2.2 Infrastructure- Transportation, Power, Water, Shelter
and Communication
2.3 Social services-Education, Health and Nutrition, Protective
Services, Social Welfare and Sports/Recreation
2.4 Environmental Management Sector
2.5 Coastal Management Sector
2.6 Politico-Administrative Sector
3. Integration of Sectoral Studies
The findings in the different sectoral studies are integrated
in this aspect of the plan. This aims to ensure consistency of
proposals across sectors, across functional roles or other towns
and vertical consistency with the goals and objectives at the
town, provincial, regional and national levels. This is the phase
in the town planning process wherein proposals are aligned to
achieve the optimum.
The functional role of the town is identified through the process
of studying the past and existing rules played by the town, its
relation to adjacent municipalities, to the province and the region
and the planned functional role of the town based on the Regional
Development Plan by the Regional Development Council (RDC). Aside
from these, resource opportunities and constraints are studied
to ensure that any proposed functional role could be implemented
by the municipality.
The concept of hierarchy of settlements and growth centers are
utilized in this planning exercise. The first concept states that
settlements could be classified into a hierarchical order, wherein
one municipality exerts influence over a group of municipalities
in relation to the others. This concept is also consistent with
the growth centers to be provided with facilities and services
to serve a particular influence area that may consists of two
(2) or more barangays or sitios.
Cross sectoral studies generally aim at:
a. Assessing the overall requirement of the different sector;
b. Assessing the resource availability per sectors;
c. Identifying cross sectoral requirements which are competing
for similar resources; and
d. Identifying sectors which may compliment each other.
Given sectors competing for similar resources, consideration
of functional role (s) of the town and the goals and objectives
it seeks to pursue would help in identifying which sector(s) has/have
to be accommodated and given priority.
4. Formulation of Land Use Plan (LUP)
Prior to the formulation of Land Use Plan, concept pare designed.
These concept plans are statements and diagrams showing the strategy
for the spatial development of the municipality. The concept plans
contain proposals for the town’s circulation system and growth
areas and their corresponding roles and influence areas. The concept
plans may alter the distribution pattern of the existing land
uses to achieve a rational and optimum land utilization. The major
goals, objectives, targets, policies and programs/projects to
be pursued by the town within the span of five (5) year (1999-2004)
as well as pertinent laws are also identified prior to the formulation
of the Land Use Plan of the town.
The Land Use Plan delineates districts for prescribed land uses
and allowable uses. Generally, it is based on the previous studies,
i.e. physiography, existing land use pattern, land area requirements
for the different sectoral projects, goals and objectives of the
town, concept plan compatibility and suitability studies and pertinent
government laws. The LUP aims at properly managing the town’s
resources and environment.
5. Municipal Development Investment Program (MDIP)
The MDIP is a listing of identified programs and projects to
be undertaken in 1999-2004 in Alaminos, Pangasinan. The listing
aims to achieve the sectoral requirements as integrated in the
cross sectoral objectives, targets, strategies and policies.
6. Formulation of Implementing Tools
This attempts to formulate various tools to implement the LUP
and MDIP. This tools may be administrative, legal, fiscal, budgetary
in nature and others.
H. METHODOLOGIES AND STRATEGIES UTILIZED IN PLAN PREPARATION
1. Organization of the Municipal Planning Team (MPT)
The MPT composed of the Mayor as Chairman, the Municipal Planning
and Development Coordinator (MPDC), the Municipal Treasurer,
the Municipal Budget Officer and Zoning Administrator-designate,
Sangguniang Bayan Member the Municipal Engineer, Draftsman,
a typist, Computer Technician/Operator and technical personnel
of the HLURB was organized for the purpose of being given the
primary responsibility in the preparation of this Plan.
2. Planning Assistance
Planning Assistance was provided by the other planning agencies
like Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Department of
Interior and Local Government (DILG), Housing and Land Use Regulatory
Board (HLRB), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Department
of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Industry
(DTI), Department of Agriculture (DA), Office of the Provincial
Agriculturist (OPAG), Department of Public Works and Highways
– Alaminos (DPWH), the Provincial Development Staff (PDS),
whose Regional Directors/Authorized Representative/staff are
members of the Pangasinan Provincial Land Use Committee (PPLUC).
In addition, these agencies, most especially HLURB, Reg. I,
provided the Local staff with sectoral planning guidelines and
standards.
3. Data Gathering
Both Primary and secondary data were gathered and utilized
for this planning activity. Primary data were gathered for the
land use study and some other sectors as there were no agencies
responsible for gathering such data. Windshield surveys were
likewise conducted to verify land uses in some portion of the
town.
Secondary data were gathered with the assumption that sources
have the competence and responsibility of data gathering, not
only for the purpose of this planning exercise but also as a
requirement to the data source’s program. Cost and time
were also considered. It would cost less in time, money and
effort to gather secondary data.
4. Mapping Operations
Maps were prepared and utilized for purposes of conducting
spatial distribution studies of various physical-socio-economic
variables.
5. Population Projections
Various methods were considered and comparison of different
methods and results were made. Population data of different
census years were utilized as bases. The Municipal Planning
Team (MPT) decided that the arithmetic method is realistic to
apply considering the municipal situation. The NSO quick count
of the 1990 and 1995 census was used as reference.
6. Citizen Participation
Citizen participation in re-planning was elicited in various
planning stages such as citizen’s participation in data
gathering, eliciting their comments and proposals for land uses
and sectoral projects during the plan formulation stage and
during public hearing. Information dissemination on the plan
intentions was greatly facilitated through the invaluable assistance
of barangay captains and other officials.
I. TOWN PLAN, REVIEW, HEARING, ADOPTION AND APPROVAL PROCESS
1. Technical Review
Copies of the first draft of the Town Plan were transmitted
to the Pangasinan Provincial Land Use Committee composed of
Regional Directors of Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board,
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department
of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Tourism
(DT), Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPAG), Department
of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Public Works and
Highways (DPWH), Department of Social Welfare and Development
(DSWD), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Transportation
DOT), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and Chairman of the
Provincial Land Use Committee, Office of the Provincial Engineer,
Office of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, Pangasinan Association
of NGO’s.
The representative of PLUC (Provincial Land Use Committee)
conducted review of the plan to consider consistence of premises
and proposals with the regional and provincial plans. Upon submission
of the review reports of the PLUC members to the Municipality,
the Town Plan is to be further refined.
2. Public Hearing
The Town Plan has also been subjected to Public consultation
and public hearing to achieve wider citizen’s participation
and the review and formulation process. The hearing aims to
elicit from the general public their comments ang suggestions
for consideration in the finalization of the Plan and to get
their support and cooperation for the proper implementation
of the Plan.
3. Adoption of the Town Plan
The plan has to be adopted by the Sangguniang Bayan through
a Resolution to make it an official document.
4. Preparation and Adoption of the Zoning Ordinance
To implement the Land Use Plan (LUP), a Zoning Ordinance (ZO)
has to be prepared by the Planning Team and to be adopted by
the SB. The ordinance states theirin the boundaries of the prescribed
land use districts or zones, the allowable uses per land use
and all other regulation pertaining to lands uses.
J. ORGANIZATION OF THE REPORT
Report presentation follows the phases of the town planning process.
Basic studies provide the general plan premises. Sectoral studies
are presented by a discussion of the existing situation of the sector,
the identification of problems needs and issues, objectives, strategies
and policies to solve the problems or answer the needs identified
therein.
The sectoral studies portion is followed by the integration of
sectoral studies, land use plans and local development investment
programs and projects.
The last chapter identifies the tools or schemes to properly implement
the Plan within the next five (5) year period.
Illustrations, tables and thematic maps along with the studies
and proposals write-ups are presented to assist readers.
K. REPORT LIMITATIONS
Report limitations are to be expected in this document among which
are the following:
1. Lack or absence of certain data requirements leading to the
possibilities or overlooking certain planning considerations;
2. Some data reflect only the immediate past and not the latest
existing situation which in away only allows for the first approximation
of the future situation; and
3. Programs/projects costing should be treated as rough estimates
considering the factors of change in process and specific situations
in particular projects.
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