December 17, 2021|
It is going to be a happy end of December for the members of DMMMSU Technical Working Group who have toiled for months to accomplish DMMMSU’s Land Use Development and Infrastructure Plan (LUDIP) as Dr. Priscilo P. Fontanilla, Jr., Vice President for Planning and Resource Development; Prof. Lilito D. Gavina, Director, Planning and Development; Arch. Jemielyn G. Siapno, University Architect and University Coordinator for Infrastructure; and Engr. Roy G. Bambico, University Engineer and University Coordinator for Monitoring and Evaluation finally submitted the said plan to CHED this morning.
This is in compliance with the National Government’s goal of implementing a ‘rational, holistic, efficient and just allocation, utilization, development and management of the country’s land and water resources that is consistent with the principles of equity, social justice, environmental integrity and sustainable development’. This goal is contained in Republic Act No. 11396 or ‘SUCs Land Use Development and Infrastructure Plan (LUDIP) Act’, an act requiring state universities and colleges (SUCs) to prepare and implement a land use and development plan that includes construction of dormitories for students and housing sites for employees.
Among those DMMMSU LUDIP TWG prepared include 1) Demographic Profile of DMMMSU and its major units and Geographic Location of DMMMSU and its units; 2) detailed description of DMMMSU to include physical features and environmental condition, inventory of landholdings, existing land use and land use trends, facilities, transportation, waste management, and power, water, and communication network; 3) land use development and infrastructure plan; and 4) institutional coordination and monitoring set-up.
For the TWG headed by VP Fontanilla, preparations involved months of meetings, conventions, enhancement and finalization. VP Fontanilla gives credit to the “brain network” who worked fervently from conception to submission: Arch. Jemielyn G. Siapno and Engr. Roy G. Bambico who spearheaded the activity. They worked hand-in-hand with the Planning Heads of the different operating units namely: Engr. Roy N. Laquidan (NLUC), Dr. Mary Jane B. Dulay (MLUC), Prof. Marissa R. Fangon (SLUC), Mr. Farland D. Valera (OUS), Engr. Roel M. Munar (NARTDI) and Ms. Pura S. Obille (SRDI); Mr. Charlie C. De Vera, Ms Sheila C. Calica and Prof. Jomar A. Aban, Technical Staff in the OVPPRD, and all the staff and personnel in the VP Planning Office, who served as their “supporting ganglia”.
As for the team’s part, they wish to thank the University President, Dr. Jaime I. Manuel, Jr., for his strong support, and the University Officials, the Unit Heads, and all those who extended their help to realize the plan. They also extend their appreciation to CHED, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Land Management Bureau, the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development, the Department of Public Works and Highways, University of the Philippines – Resilience Institute; the Local Government Units of Bacnotan, Rosario, Balaoan, Agoo, and Sto. Tomas; the University of the Philippines – School of Urban and Regional Planning, and the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC) that extended all possible assistance in the preparation, monitoring and resolution of technical concerns related to the implementation of the LUDIP, especially Pangasinan State University for accommodating the University for its benchmarking during the initial stage of its LUDIP preparation.
“The labor and support of these agencies are of utmost significance to DMMMSU’s Land Use Development and Infrastructure Plan,” VP Fontanilla said in a short exchange.
“It is only by God’s grace that the members of the technical working group were able to finish this onerous task,” he added. (Jomar Aban)