SANTO DOMINGO.- The Organic Law on Territorial Planning, Land Use and Human Settlements is included among the initiatives prioritized by the Executive Branch and is expected to be approved by the National Congress before the current legislative session concludes, scheduled to end on January 12 of next year.
The new list of initiatives prioritized by the Executive Branch consists of 17 bills and a loan agreement, considered relevant for the Government to implement public policies that will impact the country's development.
The Law that establishes a regulatory framework for Territorial Planning plans at the different political-administrative levels, taking into account guidelines of environmental, cultural, economic, social, risk management and sustainable development interest, was approved on October 26 by the Senate and now it is up to the Chamber of Deputies to review it.
Osval (Ovi) Saldívar, the administrative vice-minister of the presidency in charge of inter-institutional affairs and relations with the State Powers, explained that the Government usually prioritizes some legislative initiatives over others because they are necessary for the development of the country and because they are framed within the public policies that it plans to implement.
He recalled that it is the responsibility of the Legislative Branch to approve or reject these initiatives, and that the Government, respecting the separation of powers, abides by congressional decisions.
However, Saldívar stated that he hopes the National Congress can pass these initiatives as soon as possible, adding that in the coming days, before the current ordinary legislative session concludes on January 12, 2023, he plans to meet with the presidents of the Senate, Eduardo Estrella, and the Chamber of Deputies, Alfredo Pacheco.
The route of the Land Use Planning Law
The Organic Law on Territorial Planning, Land Use and Human Settlements was approved on October 26th by the Senate of the Republic, so it is now up to the Chamber of Deputies to study and approve it.
The legislation was amended by Senator Alexis Victoria Yeb to take into account the size of green areas depending on population density.
What it proposes
The regulations establish a regulatory framework for Territorial Planning plans at the different political-administrative levels, taking into account guidelines of environmental, cultural, economic, social, risk management and sustainable development interest.
Furthermore, it establishes that in State policy, territorial planning integrates the instruments of territorial planning and its relationship with social, economic and political processes, under a decentralized dynamic, granting greater participation to territorial actors based on alliances between the State, the private sector and civil society.
Similarly, the document contemplates the creation of a national territorial planning system coordinated by the Ministry of Economy, Planning and Development (Mepyd) to supervise public investments and the participation of the private sector and civil society, as well as the identification of planning instruments for the territorial planning.
Also, through this project, the national territorial information system is created to process geographic data of the territory and formulate public policies in response to this, also coordinated by the Myped.
The bill was introduced by Senators Ricardo de los Santos and Félix Bautista.
It was previously reviewed and revised by a bicameral commission, which introduced significant changes to make it a much more sustainable proposal, better suited to the country's needs.
