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WHEREAS, Section 12, Art. III of P.D. 1308: the "Law Regulating Environmental Planning Profession in the Philippines", requires examination for registration of qualified applicants for the practice of environmental planning;

WHEREAS, Section 15 of the same law provides the various subjects to be covered in the licensure examination;

WHEREAS, the Professional Regulation Commission has issued policies and directives on licensure examinations: (1) Memorandum Circular No. 8, Series of 1992, (2) Res. No. 265, Series of 1993, and (3) Memorandum Circular No. 93-03, Series of 1993 and (4) Memorandum Circular No. 93-04, Series of 1993, all of which provide for the adoption of a syllabus for every subject in the licensure examinations;

WHEREAS, every adopted syllabus which contains the various concepts, principles, and application thereof shall be the basis for the examination questions that will be inputted into the test questions bank; and

WHEREAS, after consultation with the Council of Deans and Heads of Environmental Planning Schools of the Philippines and the Philippine Institute of Environmental Planning, the Board of Environmental Planning formulated a set of syllabi for the various examination subjects in environmental planning,

NOW, THEREFORE, pursuant to its quasi-legislative (rule-making) power under Sec. 8, Art. II of P.D. 1308, the Board hereby RESOLVED, as it now so RESOLVES, to adopt the syllabi of the subjects in the Environmental Planning Licensure Examination (Annex A).

FURTHER, RESOLVED that this Resolution, upon its approval by the Commission, shall be effective after fifteen (15) days following its publication in the Official Gazette or any newspaper of general circulation, whichever is earlier.

FINALLY, RESOLVED, that this resolution be disseminated to all recognized schools offering the course of environmental planning and other concerned entities.

Adopted: 2 Sept. 1994

(SGD.) SERAFIN G. AQUINO, JR. Chairman
(SGD.) CESAR H. CONCIO Member	(SGD.) LUIS T. TUNGPALAN Member
Approved:
(SGD.) HERMOGENES P. POBRE Commissioner
(SGD.) MARIANO A. MENDIETA Member	(SGD.) ARMANDO C. PASCUAL Member

 

ANNEX "A"

Licensure Examination for Environmental Planners

Subject: Physical Planning Aspects ..................................................................... 25%

Introduction: Physical planning shall mean the rational use of land for development purposes. This is a field of concern for Environmental Planners to promote new approaches, schemes, and emerging concepts of land development. The subject is the foundation and building block of the related subjects which will elicit the understanding and respect of the natural endowments and realities of the physical environment.

Syllabus: Physical planning includes the study of inter-relationships of many factors affecting the land and planning area, such as:

1. Land Use Planning as a strategy for growth and development of a particular area, whether it be a country, a region, a metropolis, a province, a town, a district or other political delineation of land areas, or naturally defined boundaries like watershed, riverbasin, etc.
2. Proper allocation of land areas for future development needs, in the context of universally accepted planning principle as well as explicitly stated policies set forth in various legislations to promote national growth and development.
3. Maintenance of ecological balance between forest and non-forest use, failure of which may lead to catastrophic consequences in the light of present day explosive urbanization.
4. Preservation/conservation of unique or special natural features such as wildlife sanctuaries, virgin forests, inland bodies of water, including but not limited to archeological areas, battle memorials and other areas with historical significance.
5. Protection/conservation and efficient management of identified environmentally critical areas such as coastal reefs and shore lines and such other areas covered by special laws, as well as other lands which are economically viable for food production such as prime agricultural lands and other lands devoted to permanent crops or croplands.
6. Urban land use planning which is basically concerned with the location, intensity, and amount of land development required for the various space using functions for human settlements. It deals with the requirements for the different urban land uses such as residential, commercial, industrial, institutional, recreational, cultural, and other forms of activities found in urban areas.
7. Application of comparable alternatives and innovative approaches to planning specially to peculiar situations and integration of the multi-sectoral variable that will influence the formulation of the plan.
8. Physical infrastructure development to support and complement the ever increasing demand for urbanization and modernization.

II. Subject: Social Planning Aspects .........................................................................20%

Introduction: Social Planning refers to those activities concerned with planning, development, and management of social services/facilities required by specific population groups/community, town, city, province, region or nation.

Syllabus: Social Planning includes the study of seven subsectors with specific concerns as follows:

1. Demography comprises the study of population, factors of population growth and trend; age and sex groups, dependency ratio, labor force, and income, among others.

Adequate data base on population and its characteristics serve as basis for computation of current and future requirements of a specific population group.

2. Education comprises the study of the literacy ratio of a study area's adult population which is one social indicator to gauge the area's level of development. Important concerns include a study of school-going age population vis-a-vis actual gross enrollment at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels, determination of drop-out rates and their causes as well as the proportion of population with college degrees. These shall be related to existing standards for required educational facilities towards proper teachers-pupil ration as basis for proposing projects aimed at achieving the national policy of providing a minimum of elementary and secondary education for all and ensuring an educated manpower pool.

3. Housing as a basic need compromises the study of the characteristics of available housing and related basic services that cater to the population. This includes an assessment of the nature of the housing problems particularly those that pertain to the adequacy of present housing and the provision of basic utilities such as water, power and the like, where housing problems exist and the number of families affected. This sector also includes an estimate of housing needs to meet present and future requirements; an assessment of the affordability levels of the various income groups and matching these with possible alternative housing options. Included in the study is an assessment of the availability of resource requirements (land, building materials, infrastructure and finance) to ensure implementation of suitable housing options for target beneficiaries.

4. Health Services which constitutes another important social indicator, is focused on determining the life expectancy of the population. A higher life expectancy indicates a higher level of development. On the other hand, high infant mortality and morbidity rates imply poor health situation in an area. In this regard, a study of current health facilities and services vis-a-vis required standards would provide a basic assessment of current and projected requirements of the population. The same shall serve as basis for determining the appropriate integrated health services for the target population.

5. Social Welfare Services is concerned with improving the socio-economic status of the lowest thirty percent (30%) of the income percentile of the population. Current programs address nutrition, family planning, education and self-employment. Required data are on skills inventory of unemployed/under-employed population as bases for setting up a skills upgrading program. Data on degree of malnutrition among children, fertility rates and average number of children per household would provide an assessment of requisite family planning and nutrition program for the target beneficiaries.

6. Protective Services comprises a study of the type of services/facilities rendered by the police and fire protection force vis-a-vis required standards for efficient delivery of such services. This includes an assessment of policemen/firemen population ratio, program for peace and order and the requisite calculation of current and projected requirements of the target population in terms of additional policemen/firemen and police/firefighting facilities and services.

7. Sports and Recreation is a study of the needs/preferences of the population for either indoor or outdoor sports/recreation facilities. The adequacy of such facilities not only enhances the quality of the built environment but also the health of the population. It is, therefore, imperative to provide places for recreation and their routine maintenance.

III. Subject: Economic Planning Aspects ................................................................... 20%

Introduction: Economic Planning refers to those activities concerned with uplifting the quality of life and income levels of the population through assessment to advantages from economic activities in either agriculture, industry, tourism, services, etc. The assessment shall serve as guide in determining a locality's functional role in relation to the province, the region and the nation. On this basis, the economy shall be planned, developed, and managed based on its comparative/competitive advantage as an area specializing in any distinct agricultural, industrial, commercial or service activity(ies) or combination thereof.

Syllabus: Economic Planning includes the study of four subsectors with distinct concerns as follows:

1. Commerce includes the study of the types of commercial activities in the area and the assessment of their adequacy and future requirements for development. Consideration of specific locations, spatial requirements, infrastructural support facilities, and amenities are crucial to ensure accessibility and adequacy of commercial facilities for the population.

2. Industry concerns the study of feasible industrial activities in the area. This entails an assessment of local potential raw materials and agricultural products that may be processed and developed as cottage or small-scale industries. Depending on an area's available and potential infrastructure support facilities such as ports, airports, telecommunications, and its strategic location in terms of economic linkages, it may develop sites for medium or large industries. Allocation of area requirements must ensure compatibility with adjacent land uses.

3. Tourism entails identification of local attractions or areas that have tourism potential. Some attractions may have cultural, educational, recreational or leisure value. Areas which offer more potential should be considered priority for development.

Areas with tourism potential shall develop a domestic tourism base which will complement the areas patronized by foreign tourists.

The tourism plan shall also conform with development standards for required tourist facilities and amenities depending on the tourism resources and activities.

Also, the plan shall ensure compliance with specific regulations on land use, environmental protection, building requirements and accommodation standards.

4. Agriculture pertains to an assessment of the past and potential productivity of a locality's agriculture sector. After the assessment, the development of a locality may be based on its potential for agricultural development specific to a certain commodity type. Apart from traditional rice and corn products, a locality must endeavor to plant suitable high value cash crops to improve the income levels of the farmers.

This entails suitability analysis of existing agricultural areas to determine suitable high value cash crops to be planted to attain local food security.

IV. Subject: Planning Laws and Administration ............................................................ 20%

Introduction: The subject shall focus on the general principles of planning legislation and administration which will promote environmental planning and the general welfare. It will take into consideration government policies, programs, and requirements that will enhance urban and rural inter-relationships as well as regional and national development goals of the country.

Syllabus: This subject will include the following:

1. Working knowledge of the basic law regulating the practice of Environmental Planning (PD 1308) and its implementing rules and regulations.

2. Familiarization with existing laws, executive orders, administrative issuances, and other legal orders pertaining to the planning of specific areas in the country.

3. The administration and implementation of planning laws consonant with the policies, programs, and requirements of the government on national development.

4. Formulation of appropriate rules and regulations and setting up of desirable standards in the preparation of development plans as well as the proper administrative mechanism for plan implementation.

5. Promulgation of zoning ordinances as implementing tools for local government units to pursue the proper execution of local development plans.

V. Subject: Special Planning Studies ...................................................................... 15%

Introduction: This subject is designed to determine the level of awareness or knowledge of the examinee on new approaches and techniques for special planning areas which are identified and proclaimed through legal orders:

Syllabus: This subject will include, among others, the following:

1. Practical application of planning concepts and theories suitable to a particular site or a specific planning area.

2. Environmental planning and development management for identified special planning areas or sites. This will need the critical eye and sensibility of the examinee to respond to the demands of future needs and evolve a progressive plan that may require detailed studies.

3. Promote the development of a desirable character/ambience of an area and foster public participation in plan formulation and enforcement.