SANTO DOMINGO- According to the Regulations for the Application of the Law on Territorial Planning, Land Use and Human Settlements , issued last Monday by the Executive Branch, the Regional Plans for Territorial Planning and Development (PRODT) will have a validity of twenty (20) years , as provided in article 31.
Once a Regional Land Use and Development Plan has come into effect, the national government institutions will guide the planning of public investment in the corresponding region in accordance with what is established in said plan , as established in the paragraph of the same article.
Article 33 states that the Regional Territorial Diagnosis must incorporate the analysis of disaster and climate risk , integrating reduction policies and projects into the Regional Planning and Development Model. Furthermore, this diagnosis must consider the region's position within the national and international context , including its connections with other regions.
Regarding the process for developing and approving these plans, section 7 of article 34 establishes that, within the same two-month period, a Strategic Environmental Assessment , in accordance with the terms defined by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources. This ministry will have a maximum of sixty days to validate said study.
The regulations outline the types of reviews for regional plans. The ordinary review , defined in section 2 of article 35 , will be periodic and subject to compliance with the following conditions:
a. Substantial modifications are identified in the official statistical and geospatial information (National Population and Housing Census, National Agricultural Census or other similar official studies) that differ significantly from the data used as the basis for the original preparation of the Regional Plan for Territorial Planning and Development.
b. There is a Declaration of Disaster Situation as a consequence of a natural or anthropogenic phenomenon in the corresponding demarcation that makes it convenient to modify some of the objectives or goals of the Plan.
c. The results of technical studies on threats, vulnerability and risks that justify it.
d. The National Territorial Planning Plan (PNOT) is approved or the existing one is revised.
Likewise, the extraordinary review will be an exceptional review that can be initiated at any time, provided that one of the following conditions is met:
a. Substantial modifications are identified in the official statistical and geospatial information (National Population and Housing Census, National Agricultural Census or other similar official studies) that differ significantly from the data used as the basis for the original preparation of the Regional Plan for Territorial Planning and Development.
b. There is a Declaration of Disaster Situation as a consequence of a natural or anthropogenic phenomenon in the corresponding demarcation that makes it convenient to modify some of the objectives or goals of the Plan.
c. The results of technical studies on threats, vulnerability and risks that justify it.
d. The National Territorial Planning Plan (PNOT) is approved or the existing one is revised.
