National land use law will minimize deaths, job losses due to typhoons, says ex-VP Binay

Former Vice President and now senatorial candidate Jejomar Binay is greeted by children singing his campaign jingle “Binay There, Done That!” inside Trabajo Market in Manila.

MANILA, Philippines — Senatorial candidate and former Vice President Jejomar Binay on Monday said a National Land Use law would greatly help minimize loss of lives and jobs caused by strong typhoons.

Binay issued the statement in the wake of the damage caused by “Agaton” in Eastern Visayas. Earlier, super typhoon “Odette” also left thousands homeless and destroyed farms and infrastructures mostly in Central Visayas.

“A National Land Use Law would help prevent the loss of lives and livelihood as a result of typhoons and other natural calamities caused by climate change,” he said.

“The law would maximize the best use of lands, and will delineate specific uses for particular lands,” Binay said.

Binay said such a law would identify hazard areas in localities which should be designated as no-build zones by local authorities.

“The law will also designate certain lands for protection and conservation, for agriculture and fisheries, as well as for residential, manufacturing, industrial, and infrastructure use,” he added.

Binay, who served as housing czar from 2010 to 2015, said that a national land use plan would also help ensure food security.

“If the land is irrigable, then it should be reserved for agricultural use,” he said.

The former vice president noted that there are conflicts in the present policies concerning land use and management.

“We need to avoid these conflicts and address problems caused by massive urbanization, such as the lack of housing and the proliferation of informal settlers,” Binay said.

He added that there is a need to harmonize existing laws and adopt a consistent land use policy.

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