Building spaces where no one’s left behind

FOR THE PAST few weeks, the Philippines has experienced natural calamities of every kind, from typhoons in Luzon, earthquakes and aftershocks in Cebu, and even an eruption of the Taal Volcano in Batangas. To reduce the effects of these disasters, calls for sustainable buildings have persisted, and many Filipinos are clamoring for growth that leaves no one behind, including nature.

- By Jomarc Angelo M. Corpuz Special Features and Content Writer

This was further tackled in the second panel discussion of the BusinessWorld Insights forum last Oct. 3, which gathered Ibani C. Padao, officer-in-charge and director of the Environmental, Land Use, and Urban Planning and Development division of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development; and Pammy Olivares-Vital, president and chief executive officer of Ovialand, to discuss “Redefining Inclusivity: Making Urban Spaces for Everyone.”

Mr. Padao shared his department's duties in providing sustainable spaces, such as planning, making policy, regulating, and coordinating actions that shape cities and communities.

Among the more specific tasks handled by the department, he mentioned, are supporting local governments in preparing and updating their land use and urban development plans, helping establish and register homeowners associations to strengthen community participation, working with local partners in community development and post-disaster recovery, and formulating national urban development policies to guide sustainable growth.