Monday, 25 August 2025
EVENT TITLE: PLANADES Signs Contract to Assist Zamboanga City in Updating Key Local Planning Documents
On August 22, 2025, the Planning and Development Research Foundation, Inc. (PLANADES), through its President Dr. Mark Anthony Morales, signed a contract agreement with Mayor Khymer Olaso of Zamboanga City to provide technical assistance in updating Zamboanga City’s major local planning documents. Also present during the signing were PLANADES Executive Director Dr. Tabassam Raza, Associate Project Development Officer Engr. Dianne Joy Cathyrine Sanchez, City Legal Officer Atty. Evangelina Doctolero, Atty. Novelyn Ong, and Assistant City Planning and Development Coordinator EnP. Jessie Christopher Lapinid.
The partnership covers the updating of the city’s Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) and its Zoning Ordinance (ZO), Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP), and Executive-Legislative Agenda (ELA), which are vital to sustaining economic growth, promoting urban development, and ensuring effective local governance.
PLANADES will provide research-based inputs, facilitate stakeholder consultations, and conduct technical assessments to ensure the updated plans are aligned with Zamboanga City’s development goals, priorities, and current socio-economic and environmental conditions. The team will also closely collaborate with the city government, representatives of various sectors, interest groups, and marginalized communities throughout the planning process.
Following the contract signing, the PLANADES team visited the City Planning and Development Office (CPDO) to meet with EnP. Ma. Luz V. Agbayani, Zamboanga City Planning and Development Coordinator, and conducted a windshield survey of Zamboanga City to begin familiarizing themselves with existing conditions.
PLANADES remains committed to providing its expertise in research-based and participatory urban and regional planning, supporting cities and municipalities like Zamboanga in advancing sustainable growth across the Philippines and through international collaborations.
For reference, City Government of Zamboanga has also posted the meeting through this link: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Ex3cB5GQN/
Photo: 1 From left to right: EnP. Jessie Christopher Lapinid (Assistant City Planning and Development Coordinator, Zamboanga City), Engr. Dianne Joy Cathyrine Sanchez (PLANADES Associate Project Development Officer), Dr. Mark Anthony Morales (PLANADES President), Mayor Khymer Olaso of Zamboanga City, Dr. Tabassam Raza (PLANADES Executive Director), Atty. Evangelina Doctolero (City Legal Officer), and Atty. Novelyn Ong (City Legal Office). Photo credit: Public Information Office, City Government of Zamboanga
Photo: 2 PLANADES team visiting the City Legal Office. From left to right: Engr. Dianne Joy Cathyrine Sanchez, Atty. Novelyn Ong, EnP. Jessie Christopher Lapinid, Atty. Evangelina Doctolero, Dr. Tabassam Raza, and Dr. Mark Anthony Morales.
Photo: 3 Signing of the contract by PLANADES President Dr. Mark Anthony Morales, witnessed by Atty. Novelyn Ong, EnP. Jessie Christopher Lapinid, Atty. Evangelina Doctolero, and Dr. Tabassam Raza.
Photo: 4 Mayor Khymer Olaso signing the contract, joined by EnP. Jessie Christopher Lapinid (left) and Atty. Evangelina Doctolero (right). Photo credit: Public Information Office, City Government of Zamboanga
Photo: 5 Photo credit: Public Information Office, City Government of Zamboanga
Photo: 7 Dr. Tabassam Raza in discussion with Mayor Khymer Olaso, Dr. Mark Anthony Morales, Engr. Dianne Joy Cathyrine Sanchez, EnP. Jessie Christopher Lapinid, and Atty. Evangelina Doctolero.
Photo: 8 Mayor Khymer Olaso with PLANADES President Dr. Mark Anthony Morales, Executive Director Dr. Tabassam Raza, Engr. Dianne Joy Cathyrine Sanchez, and EnP. Jessie Christopher Lapinid during the contract signing. Photo credit: Public Information Office, City Government of Zamboanga
Photo: 9 Meeting at the City Planning and Development Office (CPDO). From left to right: EnP. Ma. Luz V. Agbayani (ZC Planning and Development Coordinator), Dr. Mark Anthony Morales, Dr. Tabassam Raza, and EnP. Jessie Christopher Lapinid, discussing the next steps for the project.