Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE 0F REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila
NINHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Ses sion
HOUSE BILL NO.
Introduced by Representative Ivan Howard A. Guintu
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The United Nations (UN) recognizes the looming effects of rapid urbanization. Eleventh
in the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is Sustainable Cities and Communities. This
goal aims to "make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable." Among
the targets this goal aspires to achieve by 2030 are the following:
Provide  access to  safe,  affordable,  accessible  and sustainable transport systems  for all,
improving road safety, notably by expanding public transport;
Enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated,
and sustainable human settlement plarming and management;
Provide universal access to safe, inclusive, and accessible green and public spaces; and
Support positive economic, social and environmental links between urban, per-urban and
rural areas by strengthening national and regional development planning.
According to the UN, over half of the global population cunently resides in urban areas.
Of this, approximately 1.1 billion people are currently living in slums or slum-like conditions in
cities, with an additional two billion people more expected in the next 30 years.
Globally, three out of every four cities have less than 20% of their areas dedicated to public
spaces and streets. The supposed target of 45-50% dedicated for public spaces and streets are not
met. Consequently, this has brought about worsened air pollution, inadequate infrastructure and
services, and an unplanned urban sprawl.
In  the  Philippine  context,  58.93  million  or  54%  of the  country's  total  109.03  million
population  are  living  in  urban  barangays,  according to  the  2020  census  of population  of the


Philippine Statistics Authority. UN Habitats estimates that 84% of Filipinos are expected to reside
in urban areas by 2050.
The  adverse  effects  of rapid  urbanization  are  already  being  felt  in  the  Philippines.
Uncollected solid wastes go  into river systems  and esteros and clog waterways,  which  causes
extreme flooding events especially during massive typhoons. Water quality has also deteriorated,
and  air pollution  and  greenhouse  gas  emissions  have  increased.  Furthermore,  the  increase  of
population and the lack of housing settlements in metropolitan cities have resulted in inforlnal
settlers residing in make-shift settlements in unsafe and inhabitable areas. Unfortunately, these
people are the ones most susceptible to the effects of extreme natural calamities.
In its 2014 report with the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), the Japan
Intemational Cooperation Agency (JICA) said the Philippines the country suffered at least P2.4
billion losses daily due to traffic congestion in Metro Manila and is projected to lose P5.4 billion
a day due in 2035 if the problem remains unsolved.
According  to  a  study  made  by  Prof.  Primitivo  Cal  of the  UP  National  Center  for
Transportation Studies, the ongoing traffic crisis and transport problem in Metro Manila can be
traced to five  significant factors related to rapid urbanization and slow development of public
transportation in the country : rapid urbanization, mono-centric urban form, limited mass rail transit
network,  and  low ratio  of road  length to  motorization.  Professor Cal noted that reducing the
concentration of trips  in  space by boosting the  capacity of public transport and expanding the
network of highways are a must as part of the long-term solution to the traffic problem.
This measure proposes to create an Urban Planning and Development (UPD) Office in
every city and municipality which shall be headed by an Urban Planning and Development Officer.
The UPD shall create a comprehensive  10-year urban master plan which shall be consulted first
with the stakeholders, then shall be approved by the Sanggunian and shall be reviewed every five
years and updated every ten 10 years.
In anticipation of the estimated 84% of Filipinos that are expected to reside in urban areas
by 2050, cities and municipalities should be guided and prepared for rapid urbanization.
In view of the foregoing, the passing of this bill is earnestly sought.


Republic of the Philippines
HOusE oF REPRESENTATlvns
Quezon City, Metro Manila
NINETHHNTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session
HOUSEBILLNo.   8900
Introduced by Representative Ivan Howard A. Guintu
AN ACT
CREATING A LOCAL URBAN PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT OFFICE IN
EVERY CITY AND MUNICIPALITY
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House Of Representatives Of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:
SECTION 1. Sfaorf rl.£/c.  - This Act shall be known as the "Local Urban Planning and
Development Office Act of 2023."
SHC. 2.  Creation  Of Urban  Planning  and  Development  Oiff ijfice.  -   There  srfudrl be  ii
mandatory establishment of an Urban Planning and Development (UPD) Office in every city and
municipality, which shall be headed by the UPD Officer.
SEC. 3. Section 443 of Republic Act No. 7160, as amended, otherwise known as the Local
Government Code of 1991 is hereby amended to read as follows:
"SECTION 443. Officials of the Municipal Government. -
(a)  There  shall  be  in  each  municipality  a  municipal  mayor,  a  municipal  vice-mayor,
Sangguniang  Bayan  members,  a  secretary  to  the  Sangguniang  Bayan,  a  municipal
treasurer,  a  municipal  assessor,  a municipal  accountant,  a municipal  budget  officer,  a
municipal planning and development coordinator, a municipal engineerfouilding official,
a  municipal  health  offlcer  and  a  municipal  civil  registrar  [.],  AND  A  MUNICIPAL
URBAN PLANNING AND DEVELOphAINT OFFICER.
xxx„


SHC. 4. Section 454 of the Local Government Code of 1991, as amended, is hereby further
anended to read as follows:
"SECTION 454. Officials of the City Government. -
There shall be in each city a mayor, a vice-mayor, Sangguniang Panlungsod members, a
secretary to the Sangguniang Panlungsod, a city treasurer, a city assessor, a city accountant,
a city budget officer, a city planning and development coordinator, a city engineer, a city
health `officer,  a  city  civil  registrar,  a  city  administrator,  a  city  legal  officer,  a  city
veterinarian,  a city  social welfare  and  development officer,  and a city general  services
officer[.], AND A CITY URBAN PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT OFFICER."
SEC. 5. A new section to be denominated as Section 490-A, Article XXI is hereby inserted
between Title V and Title VI after Section 490, Article XX of the Local Government Code of
1991, as amended, to read as follows:
"ARTICLE XXI
TEE URBAN PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT OFFICER
SEC. 490-A. APPOINTMENT, QUALIFICATIONS, POWERS, AND DUTIES. -
(A)NO   PERSON   SHALL   BE   APPOINT   AS    URBAN   PLANNING   AND
DEVELOPRENT OFFICER UNLESS SUCH PERSON IS A CITIZEN OF TIH
PHILIPPINES,  A  RESIDENT  OF  THE  MUNICIPALITY  OR  CITY AS  TIH
CASE  MAY  BE,  OF  GOOD  MORAL  CHARACTER,  A  HOLDER  OF  A
COLLEGE   DEGREE  PREFERABLY  IN  URBAN  PLANNING,   A  FIRST-
GRADE  CIVIL  SERVICE  ELIGIBLE  OR  ITS  EQUIVALENT,  AND  MUST
HAVE ACQUIRED EXPERIENCE IN URBAN PLANNING FOR AT LEAST
FIVE  (5)  YEARS  IN THE  CASE  OF  THE  CITY URBAN PLANNING AND
DEVELopl\mNT OFFICER AND TlmEE (3) VIARS IN TEE CASE oF TEE
MUNICIPAL    URBAN    PLANNING    AND    DEVELOPRENT    OFFICER,
II\m4EDIATELy PRECEDING THE DATE OF TEE AppOINTRENT
(B) THE  URBAN PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT  OFFICER  SHALL  TAKE
CHARGE oF Tlm URBAN PLANNING ANI) DEVELopRENT oFFlcE, AND
SHALL:
(1) CREATE  A  COMPREHENSIVE  TEN  (10)-REAR  URBAN  MASTER
PLAN WrH]CH SHALL BE APPROVED BY TrH SANGGUNIAN AND
SHALL  BE  REVIEWED  EVERY FIVE  (5)  YEARS  AND  UPDATED
EVERY TEN ( 10) YEARS. TEE OLD URBAN MASTER PLAN SHALL
CONTINUE TO BE IrmLEMENTED UNTIL A NEw URBAN MASTER
PLAN IS APPROVED BY TIE SANGGUNIAN.
(2) FORMULATE THE COMPRERENSIVE URBAN MASTER PLAN AND
POLICIES OF TEE CITY OR MUNICIPALITY AS AN INPUT TO TEE
CITY/MUNICIPAL  DEVELOPRENT  PLAN  FOR  CONSIDERATION


OF   TIH   SANGGUNIAN.   TEE  URBAN  MASTER  PLAN   SHALL
INCLUDE TIIE FOLLOVING:
(i)      LANDUSE;
(ii)      AGRI-ECOTOURISM PROMOTION AND MANAGEMENT;
(iii)      PROMOTION AND INCLUSION OF URBAN GREEN SPACES
IN URBAN PROJECTS;
(iv)      TRANSIT    ORIENTED    DEVELOPRENT    IN    IDENTIFIED
HGHLY-DENSE AREAS IN TEE CITY OR MUNICIPALITY;
(v)      ROAD NETWORKING AND TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT, AND
THE     INTEGRATION     OF     BIKE     LANES     AND     SAFE
PEDESTRIAN LANES ;
(vi)      ACCESSIBILITY   TO   BASIC    GOVERNMENT   SERVICES,
HEALTHCARE   FACILITIES,   SCHOOLS,   RECREATIONAL
SPACES, AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES;
(vii)      PRESERVATION   OF   IIERITAGE   ZONES,   ESTABLISIHD
HISTORICAL  SITES, MONURENTS, AND LANDMARKS  IN
THE CITY OR MUNICIPALITY;
(viii)      URBAN HOUSING FACILITIES AND SERVICES, INCLUDING
SOLID   WASTE   MANAGERENT,   SEWERAGE   SYSTEMS,
DISASTER    RISK    REDUCTION,    INTEGRATED    FLOOD
CONTROL  AND  CLIMATE  CHANGE  PROOFING,  DIGITAL
CONNECTIVITY, AND WATER AND ENERGY;
(ix)      DEVELOPMENT OF CLIMATE-RESILIENT AND DISASTER-
RE S ILIENT          INFRASTRUC TURE          AND          HUMAN
SETTLEMENTS;
(3) UNDERTAKE     CONTINUING     STUDIES,     RESEARCHES,     AND
TRAININGS  NECESSARY TO  EVOLVE  URBAN PLANNING  AND
DEVELOPNINT PROGRAMS FOR TIIE CITY OR MUNICIPALITY;
(4) COORDINATE  WITH  DIFFERENT  FUNCTIONAL  GROUPS   AND
AGENCIES FOR INTEGRATION OF TEE URBAN MASTER PLAN OF
TITh CITY OR MUNICIPALITY;
(5) MONITOR  AND  EVALUATE  THE  URBAN  MASTER  PLAN  FOR
IMPLEMENTATION;


(6) pRovlDE TECIINICAL AND SECRETARIAL AsslsTANCE To Tlm
CITY/MUNICIPAL DEVELOPRENT COUNCIL; AND
(7) ASSIST  TIH  ZONING  OFFICE  IN  TIE  RESPECTIVE  CITY  OR
PVIUNICIPALITY IN THEIR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES AND
SHALL    RENDER    TEE    FOLLOWING    TECIINICAL    SUPPORT
FENCTIONS:
(i)      REVIEW     AND     PROCESS     ALL     APPLICATIONS     FOR
LOCATIONAL CLEARANCES FOR ALL PROJECTS;
(ii)      PREPARE    A    LOCATIONAL    CLEARANCE    FOR    EACH
PROJECT CONFORMING TO ZONING REGULATIONS OR A
NOTICE    OF    ACTION   FOR   EACH   NON-CONFORMING
PROJECT;
(iii)      EVALUATE     APPLICATIONS     FOR     VARIANCES     AND
EXCEPTIONS,  INNOVATE  DEVELOPMENT  TECIINIQUES
AND SPECIAL USE PERMITS;
(iv)      STUDY      REQUESTS      FOR      RECLASSIFICATION      OR
REZONING;
(v)      PREPARE  A  CERTIFICATE  OF  NON-CONFORMANCE  OR
CLEARANCE     FOR     REPAIR/RENOVATION     ON     NON-
CONFORMING USES IN ACCORDANCE WITH GUIDELINES
PRESCRIBED IN TEE CITY' S OR MUNICIPALITY'S ZONING
ORDINANCE.
SEC. 6. After public consultation with the stakeholders and approval by the sanggunian,
the UPD Office, through the local chief executive, shall submit a copy of the 10-year urban master
plan to the Bureau of Local Government Supervision of the Department of Interior and Local
Government. The Bureau of Local Government Supervision shall monitor the compliance of the
city or municipality based on the approved urban master plan.
SEC. 7. 4zxproprJ.¢froHs. - The appropriations for the permanent position herein created,
including other related budget for its office, shall be included in the annual budget of the local
government unit concerned of the year following the approval of this Act, and thereafter.
SEC.  8. Sep¢robz.Jrty C7¢use.  - If for any reason, any provision of this Act is declared
unconstitutional or invalid, parts of provisions of this Act that are not affected shall continue to be
in full force and effect.
SEC. 9. J{epe¢/i.#g CJ¢#sc. - All laws, executive orders, presidential decrees, implementing
rules and regulations inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.


SHC.10. EJ7rccfz.vrty. -This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in
the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,