The City Planning and Development’s other roles

THE CPDO, or the City Planning and Development Office has one of its tasks or mandates the conceptualization of ordinances or laws to conserve, preserve and protect the city’s surroundings or environment.

Under Section 475, Article Six of Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code, it provides the qualifications, powers and duties of the Planning and Development Coordinator who heads the CPDO. In this case, Rosan S. Paquia, concurrent City Administrator of Mabalacat City, is at the helm of this office.

It is given that the appointment of the City Planning and Development Officer is mandatory for provincial, city and municipal governments. Among his functions are the formulation of integrated economic, social, physical and other development plans and policies for consideration of the local development council and the conduct of continuing studies, researches and training programs necessary to evolve plans and programs for implementation.

Corollary to the above tasks, the CPDO looks on activities which may impact on the environment. It is in constant touch and communication with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

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One issue which came to the attention of the City Planning and Development Coordinator are the activities of one Rading Adrias, a scheming ertswhile member of the Multi-Sectoral Unit.

Allegedly, this Adrias has turned into a rogue character, disposing public lands without proper authority to do so and making false claims to gullible persons in exchange for money, in complete violation of existing l an ds.

Because of this, the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office based in San Antonio, Guagua, Pampanga, wrote to Mayor Crisostomo C. Garbo and Tabun Barangay Chairman Jerry Magsino on November 23, 2018 “requesting for assistance in conducting an on-site investigation including census and tagging of the homeowners, lot owners and the individuals involved in the unauthorized construction build up over the 13 hectare property of the government located in Barangay Tabun, Mabalacat City.

It furthered thus: Our personnel (DENR) inspected the site last November 15, 2018 and discovered that the lots are being sold and bought for an unspecified amount of money. To immediately address this, we sent a Cease and Desist Order addressed to the Barangay Chairman to halt all construction activity thereon and all sale transactions involving the lot.

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Speaking of the CPDO, the Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS) Accelerated Poverty Profiling (APP) Module II Data Processing, Poverty Mapping and Building of CBMS Data Base was conducted on January 22-24, 2019 at the City Hall Annex, Clark Freeport Zone, Mabalacat City. It was attended by the membersof the Technical Working Group (TWG) composed of CPDO staff Cesar T. Rivera, Iry Lising, Paolo Miguel de Leon, Lorna So, Elconida Tuazon, Ellgeebher Mendiola, Edelin Zabala, Irish Camille Tolentino and Francisco S. Foronda.

The speakers and trainors were from the Department of Interior and Local Government headed by CBMS Cluster Team Leader Renalyn D. Iglesia, Melerie G. Pineda of DILS R3, DILG Focal Person Ly Franni S. Lacanlale, Rainier R. Collado and Johnny F. Mandocdoc, IT Specialist.