LAND USE AND THE DIRE NEED FOR AN EQUIVALENT LAW

By Jess Fabello (Kaisahan Intern)

I was a stranger to the dilemmas and issues that surround land use before I was exposed to it through my internship. When I heard of the term, I only thought of how land was simply utilized. But now, I understand it in a more different light. In a more complicated understanding of the term, it possesses three dimensions: political, economic and social.

Power and access to the government could be identified as being important political variables to dilemmas surrounding land use. In issues concerning land use, there are myriads of actors which are involved. The power which they wield and the access that they have to government varies, depends again on their economic and political stature. Politicians ideally serve as arbitrators to both parties, while upholding the interests of the general public.

Meanwhile, business interests affect also land use. It is they who utilize land for their operations. Most of the time also, they are the leading violators of environmental protection policies as they aim to maximize profitability in their operations. However, the environment is put to risk in these actions. Ideally, businesses should be able to reduce their carbon footprint and environmental impact. But switching to sustainable environmental practices comes at a cost to businesses, something which they would avoid if possible.

Finally, there is society. People are affected by the action of government and business actors. Depending on how these two powerful actors treat the environment, the public will either benefit from it or will get harmed. A good example of this would be urbanization. Urban expansion heralds the development of areas which are previously underdeveloped. This means that jobs and new spaces for economic activity are created. However it comes with a price. As rapid urban expansion continues to go unrestricted, society might start to feel the negative effects of urban life such as increasing crime rates, increasing population density and poor sanitation.

With land use possessing such dimensions which are intertwined with each other, I can therefore say that it needs to be better managed. In the case of the Philippines, the non-existence of a comprehensive land use law has precluded the chance for proper utilization of land and its treatment as a scarce resource. In a country blessed by mineral resources but at the same time located in an area where the danger of earthquakes, tsunamis, typhoons and volcanic eruptions abound, the need for such a law is highlighted.

We have had seen for ourselves many natural disasters whose effects were magnified by the lack of preparedness. People become complacent because these disasters seem to be far from happening to their area; such conception has been proven wrong recently, with the advent and aftermath of Japan’s plight. This event crushed hearts and baffled minds as to how could such an event happen. But then again we need to also learn some hard lessons from this event.

Japan was pretty much prepared for earthquakes or tsunamis. The coastline has been sculpted to offer a certain degree of protection from tsunamis, while buildings are prepped up to endure punishment from earthquakes. Yet it still cost Japan thousands of lives and yen and has brewed a nuclear disaster that still continues to be unabated. Compared to Japan, the Philippines is ill prepared for such a disaster. Consider the Marikina Valley Fault. Ever since when I was a toddler who could understand adults, my mother always warned me that one day a mighty earthquake will shake up Metro Manila and will cost us hundreds of thousands of lives and perhaps billions of pesos. Until now, I have not forgotten this. I always think of the time bomb underneath Metro Manila, waiting to move at God’s discretion.

I wonder why Filipinos do not think of the possibility that such disasters may happen in the near future, on our own soil. Maybe we are dampened by our busy lives that forget to take note of our surroundings. We often immerse ourselves in human affairs that the environment and the spiritual come only at times when our reality has been badly shaken up. In this situation, there arises the need for rules and regulations to be created and enforced. This is to remind us of our responsibility to the environment and the threats that our irresponsibility might bring upon us and others.

I heard this saying before and I found it to be applicable to our dilemma with land use: Mas mabuti na ang maagap kaysa sa masikap.