The staff of the 23 barangays in Kawit, Cavite participated in a workshop conducted by the Kawit Local Government Unit (LGU) and Palafox Associates on Wednesday, February 21, 2024. 

The workshop aimed to improve the town’s Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) and Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP), which are the main tools for guiding the physical, social, and economic development of the municipality.

According to Kawit Mayor Angelo Emilio Aguinaldo, the workshop was part of the LGU’s efforts to update and harmonize the CLUP and CDP with the national and provincial plans, as well as to address the current and emerging issues and challenges faced by the town. 

He said that it was important to ensure the participation of the barangays in the implementation of the plans, especially that they give suggestions on the direction of the town’s development programs.

The workshop was facilitated by Palafox Associates, a multi-disciplinary firm that specializes in architecture, planning, engineering, and design. 

The firm has been hired by the LGU to assist in the formulation and revision of the CLUP and CDP. The workshop covered topics such as the vision, goals, objectives, strategies, and policies of the plans, as well as the identification of priority projects and programs for the town.

The workshop also included a site visit to some of the proposed development areas in Kawit, such as the historical and cultural heritage sites, the coastal and marine resources, the urban and rural settlements, and the infrastructure and utilities. 

The participants were able to observe and assess the existing conditions and potentials of these areas, as well as to provide feedback and recommendations for their improvement.

The workshop was the first of a series of consultations and workshops that will be conducted by the LGU and Palafox Associates with various stakeholders, such as the civil society, the private sector, the academe, and the national and provincial agencies. 

Kawit LGU and Palafox Associates aim to complete the CLUP and CDP by the end of 2024, and to submit them to the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB) for approval.

The CLUP and CDP are expected to serve as the blueprint for the sustainable and inclusive development of Kawit, which is one of the oldest and most historic towns in the Philippines. Kawit is known for being the birthplace of the first Philippine president, Emilio Aguinaldo, and the site of the declaration of Philippine independence in 1898.