Students enrolled in P210.1 (Urban Planning Workshop) under the Diploma in Land Use Planning (DLUP) program of the Faculty of Management and Development Studies (FMDS), University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU), made a significant impact in local governance as they collaborated with the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Cuenca, Batangas in the formulation of its Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP) during the 1st Semester of Academic Year 2024-2025. 

This partnership was part of the Pamayanan Urban Planning Studio, which operationalizes the P210.1 course and engages students in the actual preparation of planning outputs in collaboration with local government units, academic institutions, and civil society organizations.

The collaborative efforts bore fruit as the Comprehensive Development Plan – Technical Assessment Committee (CDP-TAC) of the Province of Batangas issued Resolution No. 01-2025, endorsing the assessment as to form, process, and content of the Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP) of one city and three municipalities—including Cuenca—to the Provincial Development Council. 

According to the resolution, the CDP of Cuenca “substantially complies with the essential requisites of a FULLY COMPLIANT CDP” as prescribed by the Department of the Interior and Local Government – Bureau of Local Government Development (DILG-BLGD). This notable endorsement was unanimously adopted on April 4, 2025.

The LGU-Cuenca extended its grateful appreciation to the DLUP Program of FMDS-UPOU, acknowledging the invaluable contribution of the students and faculty in completing this vital planning document.

“Without them, we couldn’t do this. Again, a big thanks to their team,” shared a representative from the LGU.

The planning team was composed of DLUP students Jose Lorenz de Castro, Ivy Montalbo, Jen Loyola, Harvey Advincula, Danilyn Bellen, Grace Garcia, and Karen Buenconsejo. They were guided and mentored by their Faculty-in-Charge (FICs), EnP Remsce Pasahol and EnP Beverly Abad.

This collaboration showcases the UPOU’s open and distance education framework and its support for capacity-building and local development planning, helping communities shape a more sustainable and strategic future in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 4 (Quality Education) and 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities). 

Written by: Ms. Dona Lyn M. Piamonte• Edited by: aProf. Remsce A. Pasahol and Mr. Larry N. Cruz

Sustainable Development Goals

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