The initiative seeks to establish a common vision for organizing land use and guiding urban growth; the Government is involved in the formulation of more than 60 municipal plans
SANTO DOMINGO.- The Minister of the Presidency, José Ignacio Paliza, submitted the draft bill for the National Territorial Planning Plan to the Senate of the Republic this Thursday, an initiative that seeks to establish common criteria to organize the Dominican territory, regulate land use and promote sustainable development.
The proposal was delivered to the president of the Senate, Ricardo de los Santos, and seeks to complement Law 368-22, on Territorial Planning, Land Use and Human Settlements, through a regulatory framework that guides urban expansion and the location of economic activities in suitable spaces.
In presenting the initiative, Paliza argued that territorial planning constitutes a "State obligation," taking into account the population density of the Dominican Republic, estimated at about 240 inhabitants per square kilometer, one of the highest in Latin America.
“This draft bill that we are submitting to the Senate today represents a crucial step in strengthening land-use planning, organizing urban settlements, and promoting sustainable development in the country,” the minister stated.
More than 60 municipal plans in development
As part of the efforts to improve territorial planning, Paliza reported that the Ministry of the Presidency is currently participating in the development of more than 60 municipal territorial planning plans.
The official explained that these instruments seek to improve the regulation of the territory and establish criteria that allow for the organized development of communities.
In that regard, he expressed the importance of moving towards "a better regulated country that can better address how it plans its development.".
For his part, the Deputy Minister of Territorial Planning and Regional Development, Domingo Matías, indicated that the National Plan proposal was developed after more than five years of work in different regions of the country.
He also explained that one of its purposes is to link public policies on land use planning with risk management and climate change adaptation strategies, so that these factors are considered in national development planning.
The proposal seeks to protect and make better use of the soil
The preliminary draft incorporates criteria of environmental sustainability, risk prevention and climate adaptation to guide land use and reduce the effects of disorganized urban growth.
Upon receiving the document, Senate President Ricardo de los Santos emphasized that the initiative will contribute to protecting the soil and ensuring that it is used according to its intended purpose and in an efficient manner, for the benefit of future generations.
The proposal was previously reviewed by the Council of Ministers before being sent to the National Congress, where it must complete the corresponding legislative procedure.
With its eventual approval, the National Territorial Planning Plan would have the regulatory force to facilitate its application and articulation with regional and municipal planning instruments, with the purpose of establishing a common orientation for the development of the Dominican territory.
What does territorial planning consist of?
Land-use planning involves planning and organizing land use to determine which activities can be carried out in each area, according to its characteristics and needs. Through this process, residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural, and conservation areas are defined, while also guiding the expansion of cities and communities.
This planning also seeks to avoid construction on land exposed to flooding and landslides, preserve natural resources, and ensure an adequate distribution of infrastructure and basic services, including streets, transportation, drinking water, schools, and hospitals.
In this way, its implementation helps to curb disorderly urban growth, prevent conflicts related to land occupation, and promote safer and more sustainable development.
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