Urban Partnerships Program-Philippines (UPP-Philippines) Leadership Series.

Download UPPP’s Leadership Series, a learning tool for policy makers to promote understanding of pressing urban issues and encourage policy actions for urban sustainability.

Leadership Series No. 10: Bioregional planning
Leadership Series No. 9: Furnishing the Streets
Leadership Series No. 8: When Public Becomes Private
Leadership Series No. 7: Spokes in the City
Leadership Series No. 6: Urban Waterfronts: The Wave of the Future
Leadership Series No. 5: Breaking Free From the Concrete Prison
Leadership Series No. 4: Walking into a Greener Future
Leadership Series No. 3: The Gospel of Bioregionalism
Leadership Series No. 2: The Evolution of the Jeepney and Transit in Metro Iloilo
Leadership Series No. 1: The New Public Realm and the Sustainable City

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PLANNING offices are regular features of provinces, cities and municipalities in the Philippines. These offices are mandated to chart the growth of their respective local governments and at the same time provide contingencies during crisis. But there are development issues that straddle across boundaries, giving birth to regional planning to effectively address concerns that are not exclusive to one local government. Regional planning has thus become a venue for sharing ideas, resources and actions so common problems can be attended to collectively.

However, recent environmental phenomena caused by climate change – like the flood that hit Iloilo City and neighboring municipalities – showed that regional planning may not just be enough to manage growth. In this era where the environment directs what development path communities should take, there is a need to look beyond political regions and start acknowledging that we don’t just live in cities, municipalities and provinces but also in watersheds, ecosystems and ecoregions. Read more »

ONE HUNDRED FORTY of the total 180 barangays in Iloilo City have virtually made the once beautiful and majestic Iloilo River as giant septic tank.

This is the reason why the river at the heart of the metropolis is dying, said City Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro) chief, Engr. Noel Hechanova.

Compounding the pollution problem is the wastewater from hospitals, hotels, commercial establishments, and households freely discharged to the river. Read more »

THE Metro Iloilo-Guimaras Development Council (MIGEDC) expressed gratitude to various Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) agency-partners for helping the council with some of its crucial projects.

One donor group which significantly helped is the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID).

Aside from these ODA partners, projects are also funded by annual fund contributions from its members. Read more »

FOUR Iloilo City Hall department heads were awarded the Centennial Model Iskolar ng Bayan Awards during the University of the Philippines’ centennial celebration July 25.

The government service awardees are city veterinarian Tomas J. Forteza Jr. (UP High School Class ’77); Community Environment and Natural Resources Officer Noel Z. Hechanova (Master in Management (MM)-Business Management ’86); city tourism officer Benito T. Jimena (MM-Business Management’86); and city planning and development coordinator Jose Roni S.J. Peñalosa (MM – Business Management ’93).

Forteza joined the city government in 1995. He earned his degree in doctor of veterinary medicine also at UP. He now handles the operation of the new double A slaughterhouse at Brgy. Tacas, Jaro. Read more »

By Jeehan V. Fernandez

THE business community here is optimistic that the P8-billion new Iloilo Airport at Sta. Barbara-Cabatuan towns will spawn booming industries nearby.

For one, giant real property developer Fil-Estate Land Inc. chair and CEO Robert John Sobrepeña announced the launching of the 153-hectare Sta. Barbara Heights at the hills of Barangay Inangayan on August 29.

Situated near the airport and just beside the century-old Iloilo Golf and Country Club, the P500-million new town development will host 500 housing units, recreational facilities, hotel and business district for office spaces that are expected to rise in two years time.

Iloilo Business Club executive director Lea Lara said they have identified the airport site as the next thriving investment haven. Read more »

METRO Iloilo and Guimaras will strengthen its partnership on the Clean Cities Coalition (MIGCCC) with a ceremonial launch on Friday at Robinsons’ Place Movieworld.

The launching will mark a pledge of support and commitment of new coalition members to be followed by signing of a poster-sized MIGCCC pledge of support.

Mayor Jerry Treñas will deliver the welcome remarks while Guimaras Gov. Felipe Hilan Nava, a USAID representative and Director Mario Marasigan of the Department of Energy will deliver their messages in support of the coalition. Read more »