PLAN MAKING

• A plan is an adopted statement of policy, in the form of text, maps,

and graphics, used to guide public and private actions that affect the
PLANNING 02 future. A plan provides decision makers with the information they
need to make informed decisions affecting the long-range social,
Module 02 economic, and physical growth of a community. This section
provides an overview of plan making as applied to a wide variety of
plan types

• Strategies for a specific area, such as a downtown, corridor, or

PURPOSES AND APPLICATIONS neighborhood Some specific applications of plans include:
OF PLANS • Providing residents, local officials, and others with an interest in the area
with an overview and projection of development and conservation in the
Plans are used when making decisions concerning the future of an area or of a planning area, along with a summary of trends and forecasts.
specific topic under consideration. For example, a plan may be used to identify: • Serving as the basis for the local government enacting and
• Housing needs—and recommend a program to meet them administering regulatory measures, such as zoning and subdivision laws,
and establishing urban growth boundaries.
• Transportation needs—and propose alternative systems and modes to
meet them • Serving as the basis for making budget allocations for capital
improvements, such as parks, utility systems, and streets.
• Open-space preservation areas—and present mechanisms to protect
these areas permanently • Serving as the basis for many other public programs, such as those
relating to growth management, historic preservation, economic
• Priority investment areas—and recommend programs to stimulate development, transportation systems, and open-space preservation, for
growth example.
PLAN AUTHORITY PLAN INNOVATION
• Although state planning statutes and federal and state regulations provide
• Plans may be expressly authorized or required by statute or administrative general guidance about plan content and process for some plans, plans can
rule, depending on the type of plan and the state in which the community is vary greatly from the prescribed themes. In recent years, planners have
located. For example, every state has its own planning statutes, one part of begun to break away from tradition by reinventing what plans look like and do,
which authorizes or requires communities to prepare a comprehensive plan, shaping the form of plans to fit the unique content and process requirements
referred to in some states as general or master plans. The statute specifies of the community.
which elements are included in the plan and the process required for
developing and adopting it. States also often use their administrative rule- • Moreover, some of the most exciting and effective plans in recent years take
making powers to further specify, refine, and interpret the statute. advantage of new ways of thinking about what a plan should contain and how
it can be presented. Interactive electronic participation, benchmarking, Web-
• In addition to state planning statutes, federal and state programs established based plans, scenario analysis and modeling, and visualization techniques
by law sometimes require that plans of a certain kind be prepared as a are a few of the new components and techniques found in plans today. Many
condition for participation in the program. The table here includes examples of of these innovations are featured in the plans described in the first part of this
plans authorized or required by state or federal statute. book.

COMPREHENSIVE VERSUS STRATEGIC

Are all topics covered or just those important to the chosen strategy? Plans that
• SCOPING CONSIDERATIONS-The subsections to follow comprise a employ a comprehensive approach consider a broad range of topics related to
general checklist of some of the most basic considerations to keep in mind the area or function of the plan, even if some topics are only relevant in a minor
when determining the scope of any plan. way.
• Time Frame-What is the time period covered by the plan? Plans almost • Plans with a comprehensive orientation are sometimes more general in
always cover a time span of longer than a year, and usually address a period their treatment of a wide variety of subjects, providing depth only when
between 5 years and 20 years. The time period may be determined by statute needed.
or by the subject matter and process. Philippine Planning Time Frame ( 3 • Alternatively, plans with a strategic approach consider only the topics
years CDP and 10 years CLUP) and relationships that appear to have a direct relevancy to the subject of
the plan, hence to the strategy.
Consequently, these plans are more focused and can usually be completed
more quickly and with fewer resources.
Community Involvement
In-House versus Outsourcing
• The issues, findings, and recommendations of a plan should take into account
the knowledge and concerns of existing residents, businesses, and other • Who should prepare a plan? Choices typically include in-house staff, outside
interests in the planning area, and the anticipated concerns of those interests consultants, community-based nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) or
in the future. Issues to consider are those with a connection to local, regional, volunteers, or a combination. The best mix results from a realistic assessment
statewide and even global matters. Consequently, an important scoping task of in-house staff capacity in terms of hours and expertise available, funds
is the creation of a legitimate and effective process for involving a wide variety available for outside consultant services, and the capacity to train and lead an
of interests in the preparation of a plan. Successful public involvement NGO or volunteer effort.
processes are designed to fit the unique context of the plan.

BASIC PLAN STRUCTURE

Binding • The structure of a plan usually consists of two basic components:
-a core
• Plans are officially adopted or endorsed by a governmental body and thereby
become a statement of its policies. Depending on the state and type of local -followed by a number of elements.
or regional governance structure, the governmental body may be the local The specific contents of a plan depend upon numerous factors, such as: -The
legislative body, the planning board or commission, a council of governments, type of plan being prepared
or regional planning agency. -The purpose of the plan
-The scope being addressed.
Consult the chapter on types of plans for information on plan contents for
specific types of plans
The Plan Core
The core includes the following: The Plan Elements
• A statement of authority to prepare and adopt plan
• Background data, including area history, existing conditions and The elements of a plan consider, specifically, the plan’s various
trends, and data projections topics. The elements that must be included depend upon the plan’s
• Documentation of stakeholder interests and stakeholder purpose. For a comprehensive plan, the land use, transportation,
involvement process housing, and community facilities elements are considered
• A vision statement or statement of goals and objectives for future essential—they form the foundation of the comprehensive plan. Other
conditions
elements are added as considered to be appropriate, based on the
• An evaluation of plan and design alternatives
plan’s scope and as required by state law
• A program of implementation

Elements frequently included in a comprehensive plan or often

prepared as separate functional plans include the following: GOALS, OBJECTIVES,AND ASSUMPTIONS
• Economic development
Universal to all plans is an identification of the goals, objectives, and
• Historic preservation assumptions of the plan. Reaching consensus on these three
• Natural hazards components is often quite difficult, if not impossible. Sometimes,
agreement can be reached only in the broadest of terms; often,
• Farmland preservation participants reach “incremental” agreement using negotiation and
• Parks, recreation, and open space compromise. Intensive communication between those preparing the
• Urban design plan and the stakeholders is required here.
Goals Several questions can be asked at the outset of the planning process to determine the
objectives of the community. Examples of such questions include:
-A goal is a statement that describes, usually in general terms, a desired future
condition • What type of development pattern do the stakeholders want?
Objectives • What type of transportation system and network does the
-A set of measurable objectives should accompany the goals established for the community want?
plan. An objective is a statement that describes a specific future condition to be • What forms of housing do stakeholders want in the
attained within a stated period of time. Typically, these objectives are more community?
numerous than the goals, and they are organized according to the topics in the
goals statement • What program of uses do stakeholders want for the
downtown area?

TYPICAL DATA NEEDS FOR PLAN

PREPARATION NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
MAPS AND IMAGES • Climate
• Base maps • Topography
Assumptions • Soils
-An assumption is a statement of present or future conditions
• Aerial photographs
• Vegetation
describing the physical, social, or economic setting within which the • GIS map layers
plan is to be used. At the outset of the process, it is necessary to • Water features
identify the basic assumptions concerning the planning area • Habitat areas
• Natural hazards
EXISTING LAND USES HOUSING TRANSPORTATION
• Residential • Inventory of housing • Street network POPULATION AND EMPLOYMENT

• Commercial • Housing condition • Street capacity • Population size

• Traffic flow volumes • Population characteristics
• Industrial • Vacancy rate • Vital statistics
• Parking supply and
• Institutional • Affordability demand • Labor force characteristic
• Open-space lands • Transit facilities by mode
• Vacant urban lands • Bicycle networks
• Farmland • Pedestrian network

LOCAL ECONOMY SPECIAL TOPICS DOCUMENT STRUCTURE

• Employment • Historic sites and • Whether published on paper, as a series of posters, or on the Web,
• Retail sales buildings it is important to create a clear, usable plan document. When
• Archaeological sites creating a plan document, consider the reader’s needs. The
• Cost of living document should clearly reflect the planning process and serve as a
• Urban design features useful tool for future users.
• Existing zoning
 Time Frame
• Provide the dates of all pertinent planning milestones, such as initiation of the
Name of the Plan planning process, completion of the first draft, and when certain benchmarks
• Identify a name for the plan that is simple, sensible, and might be achieved.
incorporates the planning area or topic name. Acknowledgments
Table of Contents • Include an acknowledgments page that lists the names, titles, and affiliations
of individuals who contributed to the production of the plan
• Provide a table of contents so that readers find the plan easy to use
and can go directly to a topic of particular interest. Glossary/Terminology Key
• A glossary can explain technical or local jargon andacronyms, and describe
unfamiliar places.

Planning Institutions in the Philippines Segmented Planning by Various Units

• Disconnect between Spatial Planning and Economic Planning
• NEDA as de facto “National Development Council” • National Anti-Poverty Commission – and its 11 “basic sectors”
• NEDA-ICC screens investments and infrastructure councils (NGOs/POs)
• HUDCC as czar on “housing and urban development” • Disaster Coordinating Councils – various levels
• HLURB as quasi-judicial authority on “land use” and residential
subdivisions • Peace and Order Councils – various levels
• Regional Development Councils – merely advisory in nature, no direct • Agrarian Reform Councils – various levels
electoral mandate except in ARMM and CAR, can not execute projects
• Agriculture and Fisheries Councils – various levels
• Provincial Development Councils
• Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Councils – various
• Municipal Development Councils levels
• Barangay Development Councils
• Metropolitan clustering – inter-LGU councils, voluntary cooperation
Hierarchy of Planning Institutions Hierarchy of Plan Documents
Level Preparing Adopting Body Reviewing Approving
Body Agency Agency
National NLUC Technical. National Land NEDA Board President
Comm Use Committee

Regional RLUC and NEDA Regional Dev’t. NLUC NEDA Board

Staff Council

Provincial PLUC and Staff Sangguniang RLUC HLURB

Panlalawigan

Metro City Devt Sangguniang RLUC or HLURB

HCC / ICC Council and Panglungsod MMDA
Staff

City/ Municipal Devt Council Sanggunian PLUC Sangguniang

Panlalawigan

Hierarchy of
Hierarchy of Development Plans
Physical Framework (Medium-Term)
Plans
Linkages between National & Sub-National Plans State of Local Development Planning
• Urban focused land use plans – Many CLUPs do not have detailed local
land use policies for production, protection, and coastal zones
• Tendency of LGUs to overestimate projected requirements in
reclassifying agricultural lands
• Many land use plans are not linked with economic levers or drivers such
as taxation and investment incentives,and livelihood / poverty alleviation
strategies ;
• LGUs with good action plans, including CDS cities have not prepared or
have outdated conceptual or comprehensive development plans
• Some LGUs have recycled plans to meet requirements of two or more
donor programs

List of LGU Plan documents required by National

Government Agencies (source: DILG)
NGA-mandated plans
• Action Plan for the Protection of Children Other sectoral plans mentioned
• AFMA
• Annual Culture and the Arts Plan • Nutrition Action Plan
• Anti-Poverty Reduction Plan • ICT Plan
• Local Coconut Development Plan • Local Shelter Plan
• Disaster Management Plan • ADSDPP
• Food Security Plan • Plan for the Elderly
• Forest Management Plan • Plan for Health and Family Planning

End..
• Gender and Development Plan • Coastal Management Plan
• Integrated Area Community Peace and Order and Public Safety Plan • Information Strategic and Management Plan
• Local Entrepreneurship Development Plan
• Sustainable Area Development Plan
• Local Tourism Plan
Scope of Midterm Exam
• Small and Medium Enterprise Development Plan
• SAFDZ Plan
• Solid Waste Management Plan
• Watershed Management Plan