Workshop to develop risk-sensitive land use plans

A second workshop to review the Supplemental Guidelines on mainstreaming climate and disaster risks in the Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) was held on January 28-29 at the Sulo Riviera Hotel, Quezon City.

The workshop was organized by the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB) and assisted by the Climate Change Commission, the implementing agency of Project Climate Twin Phoenix.

“From the first workshop, we have already produced the Zero Draft of the Supplemental Guidelines”, says CCC Vice Chairperson, Secretary Lucille Sering. “This time, a workable framework and climate/disaster risk assessment methodology in the land use planning process was discussed”.

The two-day activity generated practical and innovative ideas for fine-tuning land use planning processes so that the potential impacts of climate change are truly integrated. The review focused on climate proofing of land use plans and the integration of risks into the land use plans, projects and programs, and the zoning ordinance.

After the workshop, the participants agreed on a systematic approach to reducing vulnerabilities of communities. To do this, risk reduction from climate risks and anticipated increase in vulnerabilities from climate change must be integrated in all aspects, such as in land use plans, to ensure effective, coordinated, and harmonized disaster risk management strategy.

The workshop was conducted in the framework of the CCC program “Enabling the cities of Cagayan De Oro and Iligan and the provinces of Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental to cope with climate change” and implemented by Project Climate Twin Phoenix to put in place a long-term capacity development programme for cities and municipalities, addressing disaster risks from climate change and other related natural hazards. The project is assisted by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Australian Government.