DEPARTMENT of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Secretary Eduardo Del Rosario has cited the key role of environmental planners’ in the government’s push for resiliency and sustainability in the country’ housing and urban development sector.
In his keynote message for the Philippine Institute of Environmental Planners’ (PIEP) 51st founding anniversary and 29th National Convention on Saturday, Del Rosario congratulated the organization for its efforts to collaborate with the government.
“Environmental planners play a key role in enhancing human settlements and urban development in our country, especially amidst the contagion,” the housing czar stressed.
“Your expertise in planning can guide the government, the DHSUD in particular, in shaping the future of the housing sector and urban development,” he noted.
The PIEP is the sole accredited professional organization by the Professional Regulatory Board of Environment Planning. With the theme “Rethinking the PIEP Agenda Beyond its 50th and Engaging Environment Planners in the Context of COVID-19 as the Way Forward,” the organization seeks new ways in making the country’s sustainability framework workable amid the ongoing COVID-19 contagion.
According to Del Rosario, the PIEP’s theme for this year is “very timely.”
“Especially now that all of us are still adopting to the ‘new normal’ brought about by the pandemic. Rethinking or reviewing our programs, both short and long terms, is indeed inevitable,” he stated.
On November 15, 2019, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte signed into law Proclamation No.847, declaring November 8 of every year as the “Environmental Planning Day of the Philippines.” The PIEP’s anniversary and annual convention also coincided with the 71st World Town Planning Day.
Del Rosario noted the COVID -19 pandemic, as well as rapid urbanization and challenges brought about by climate change, had highlighted the need for better collaboration in terms of promoting an inclusive policy framework in the housing sector.
The DHSUD chief has been pushing for close collaboration with all stakeholders, esoecially the private sector, as the department pursues its goal of achieving sustainable and resilient human settlements and urban development in the country.
“As we craft our 20-year National Housing Roadmap, we welcome inputs from our partner-environment planners to enhance our flagship program BALAI – or Building Adequate, Livable, Affordable and Inclusive Filipino communities,” Del Rosario said.
“Let me assure you of DHSUD’s all-out support to PIEP’s efforts toward pro-active planning,” he added.
Among the highlights of the convention, was the conferment to Del Rosario as Honorary Fellow of PIEP with DHSUD Directors Nora Diaz, of the Environmental, Land Use and Urban Planning Development Bureau, and Jeanette Elevado-Cruz, of the Administrative Services, as PIEP Fellows.
