Architecture, Building and Planning - Theses
Permanent URI for this collection
Search Results
1 - 1 of 1
-
ItemThe effects of participation on attitudes regarding socio-environmwntal sustainability within local planning in the Philippines( 2001)Local planning in the Philippines is characterised by low levels of participation, which is also consistent with low levels of political participation observed between the middle class and the poor. Furthermore, elitist planning and decision-making is accompanied by a preponderant use of planning guidelines and techniques imposed by central government agencies on local planning bodies - further discouraging participation. I have observed that this traditional, topdown mode of planning does not promote what I call socio-environmental sustainability in local planning. This includes sense of ownership of the plan and planning process by the community, inclusiveness, people empowerment and sustainable planning outcomes among other things. On the other hand, participatory planning promotes them. In this study, I argue that participatory rather than non-participatory planning approaches promote socio-environmental sustainability. The study was based on a survey undertaken between two groups of respondents - those who participated in a series of land use planning workshops and those who did not - within the case study area, which is a rural town in eastern Philippines. The methodology involved the use of probability sampling techniques, questionnaire and interviews. The findings suggest that experience in participatory planning increases socio-environmental sustainability within local planning in the Philippines. Specifically, ownership is manifested through non-acceptance of plans made from the top. It is also evident, as participants would rather claim primary responsibility for land use and environmental planning than just leave it entirely with the local government. The study also shows that participation has a restraining effect on the power of the elite who had a propensity to manipulate the planning process for their ends. Furthermore, participation also elicits more responsible decision-making by authorities that indicate the potential influence people may have on political leaders. The favourable attitude towards participatory approaches and their positive effects, which were also observed to have resulted from the experience of participation, can be attributed to the role of participation in informing, educating, developing convictions or consciousness raising necessary to liberate communities from traditional, elitist ways of planning and decision-making as well as largely unresponsive, ineffective and irrelevant plans.