Integrating environmental impact assessment in land use planning towards climate adaptive residential development
Loading...
Date
2024
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Alternative Title(s)
The case of Baguio City and Sta. Rosa City, Philippines
Abstract
The Philippines has been engaging in environmental initiatives since 1976 with Republic Act 3931 (Pollution Control Law). Two years after, the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) system (Presidential Decree 1586) was initiated and has evolved as a separate system and operates separately from the Land Use Plan (LUP), which is directly involved in policy-making at the municipal level. In climate-adaptive residential development plans in urban communities, the implementation of the EIA and land use planning systems at the municipal level is deemed very crucial.
This dissertation that focused on two case studies of residential communities brings into light the Philippines' experience in implementing the EIA and LUP in view of climate-adaptive residential development. These case studies include two residential communities, each from two cities, Baguio and Sta. Rosa, that experienced climate-related disasters such as floods and landslides. The residential development plans for the two communities are subject to the EIA process, and both have approved Comprehensive Land Use Plans (CLUP) with corresponding Zoning Ordinances.
Baguio City is located in a seismically active mountainous region with stripped-off vegetation. With frequent periods of intense rainfall and rapid development, the city of Baguio has all the ingredients for a landslide-prone terrain. On the other hand, Sta. Rosa City is highly susceptible to earthquake and flooding, being situated where the West Marikina Valley Fault traverses, with floodplains sprawling a total area of 302 hectares. Drawing from vast secondary data and information, key informant interviews, and a survey (quota sampling) from both residential communities of the two cities, the findings expose the need to integrate the EIA in the land use planning system, particularly in the climate-adaptive residential development plan at the municipal level.
Overall, this dissertation presented eight concluding points. Both the EIA and LUP fully acknowledge the relevance of climate change in land use and development in light of recent climate-related hazards/disasters. However, surveys and interviews were found to demonstrate ineffective planning, both at the community and project level/scales. The EIA and LUP are presently fragmented systems pursued independently of each other due to fragmented policies and processes and inadequate databases to estimate climate impacts on development. Nevertheless, the EIA and LUP are potential planning tools to mitigate the impacts of climate change on land resource use and development.
In comparison, the EIA is a more rational system than LUP but limited in scope. Though the LUP is more flexible than the EIA, it negates the establishment of a robust database and methodology for EIA. The EIA and LUP consultations can be redefined for strategic actions for risk-prone communities to mitigate impacts. All system components of EIA and LUP present opportunities for integration. Disaster management policies should also be integrated into EIA and LUP. The EIA integration in LUP is possible at the local level, but a truly comprehensive integration that formalizes strategic environmental assessment principles will require targeted amendments to existing national legislation and policies. This can be mainstreamed throughout the LUP formulation process focusing on key result areas: planning parameters, intent to act or policy prescriptions accompanied by spatial targets, and adaptation actions for risk-prone urban settlements. Therefore, considering these points, policy, and institutional reforms with a view of retrofitting the planning process are recommended.
Description
Table of contents
Keywords
Environmental impact assessment, Land use planning, Climate adaptiv, Residential development, Baguio City, Sta. Rosa City, Philippines
Subjects based on RSWK
Flächenbedarf, Umweltverträglichkeitsprüfung, Wohnsiedlung, Santa Rosa City (Laguna, Philippinen), Baguio