MALACAÃANG
Manila
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES
PROCLAMATION NO. 1937
DECLARING THE SECOND WEEK OF NOVEMBER 2009 AS “NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING WEEK”
WHEREAS, change is constant and affects all regions, provinces, cities, municipalities, and barangays, both urban and rural in the Philippines and in the world;
WHEREAS, environmental planning which encompasses comprehensive multi-sectoral development and land use planning at all levels can help manage this change in a way that provides better choices for how people work and live;
WHEREAS, comprehensive multi-sectoral and land use planning provides an opportunity for all residents to be meaningfully involved in making choices that determine the future of their community;
WHEREAS, the full benefits of comprehensive planning requires public officials and citizens to understand, support, and demand excellence in planning and plan implementation; and
WHEREAS, the Philippine Institute of Environmental Planners and the League of Local Planning and Development Coordinators of the Philippines, Inc. endorse National Environmental Planning Week as an opportunity to highlight the contributions sound planning and plan implementation make to the quality of our settlements and environment;
WHEREAS, the celebration of National Environmental Planning Week gives us the opportunity to publicly recognize the participation and dedication of the members of planning and development offices and other citizen planners who have contributed their time and expertise to the improvement of the regions, provinces, cities and municipalities; and
WHEREAS, we recognize the many valuable contributions made by professional environmental planners and local planning and development officers and extend our heartfelt thanks for the continued commitment to public service by these professionals.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby declare the Second Week of November 2009 as “National Environmental Planning Week”, to draw attention to the aims, objectives, and progress of environmental planning in the country; to highlight the valuable contributions sound planning has made to the quality of human settlements and their environment; and to give nationwide coverage to the ideals of environmental planning not only within the profession but also among the general public.
All heads of Departments, Chiefs of Bureaus, Offices, Agencies and Instrumentalities of the National Government, including officials of local governments, are hereby instructed and directed to develop and implement plans, programs and activities that will promote and highlight the importance of environmental planning in developing Philippine communities in a rational and sustainable manner.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the Republic of the Philippines to be affixed.
Done in the City of Manila this 9th day of November, in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Nine.
(Sgd.) GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO
By the President:
(Sgd.) EDUARDO R. ERMITA
Executive Secretary
