RESEARCH PAPER ABOUT
UNDERSTANDING
COMMUNITY
AND ITS ROLE IN
PLANNING
DEVELOPMENT
[Document subtitle]
INTRODUCTION
COMMUNITY IS A DYNAMIC CONCEPT ENCOMPASSING A GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS
RESIDING IN A SPECIFIC GEOGRAPHICAL AREA WITH COMMON INTERESTS, VALUES, AND
GOALS. COMMUNITIES SERVE AS THE HEARTBEAT OF URBAN LIFE, EMBODYING SHARED
VALUES, ASPIRATIONS, AND CONNECTIONS. IN THE CONTEXT OF NATIONAL URBAN
DEVELOPMENT AND HOUSING FRAMEWORKS, UNDERSTANDING THE ESSENCE OF
COMMUNITY BECOMES PIVOTAL IN CRAFTING STRATEGIES THAT ALIGN WITH THE NEEDS
AND IDENTITIES OF DIVERSE POPULATIONS. AS PLANNING DEVELOPMENT SEEKS TO
MOLD LANDSCAPES AND BUILD ENVIRONMENTS THAT RESONATE WITH HUMAN NEEDS,
A DEEP COMPREHENSION OF THE COMMUNITY'S ESSENCE BECOMES PARAMOUNT.
FROM THE LAYOUT OF STREETS THAT INVITE INTERACTIONS TO GREEN SPACES THAT
BREATHE LIFE INTO URBAN LUNGS, EACH FACET IS A BRUSHSTROKE THAT PAINTS A
CANVAS OF CONNECTIVITY.
THE IMPORTANCE OF UNDERSTANDING THE INTRICACIES OF A COMMUNITY LIES
NOT MERELY IN PLACATING THE RESIDENTS, BUT IN SCULPTING A LEGACY OF
SUSTAINABLE PROSPERITY. BY WEAVING THE THREADS OF COMMUNAL VALUES INTO THE
VERY FABRIC OF URBAN DESIGN, PLANNERS CAN CREATE SPACES THAT NOT ONLY FULFILL
FUNCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS BUT ALSO RESONATE WITH THE PEOPLE WHO INHABIT
THEM. A COMMUNITY'S UNIQUE CULTURAL TAPESTRY, ITS HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE, AND
THE DREAMS OF ITS MEMBERS SHOULD ALL CONVERGE TO SHAPE AN ENVIRONMENT
THAT FOSTERS WELL-BEING, INCLUSIVITY, AND AN ENDURING SENSE OF BELONGING. THE
POWER TO SHAPE CITIES THAT RESONATE WITH THE SYMPHONY OF A COMMUNITY LIES
IN RECOGNIZING THIS ESSENCE, UNDERSTANDING ITS NUANCES, AND CHANNELING ITS
POTENTIAL TO ORCHESTRATE URBAN SPACES THAT ARE FUNCTIONAL AND CAPTIVATING
NARRATIVES OF SHARED HUMANITY.
ROLE OF COMMUNITY PLANNERS: SHAPING ENVIRONMENTS
COMMUNITY PLANNERS ACT AS THE ARCHITECTS OF URBAN LANDSCAPES,
ORCHESTRATING THE SYNERGY BETWEEN INFRASTRUCTURE, ENVIRONMENT, AND
HUMAN NEEDS. THESE PROFESSIONALS NAVIGATE THE COMPLEXITIES OF URBAN
GROWTH, HOUSING SHORTAGES, AND SUSTAINABILITY WHILE UPHOLDING THE
PRINCIPLES SET FORTH BY NATIONAL FRAMEWORKS. THEY ARE ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR
DESIGNING, DEVELOPING, AND IMPLEMENTING STRATEGIES THAT ENHANCE THE
QUALITY OF LIFE FOR COMMUNITY RESIDENTS. BY CONSIDERING FACTORS SUCH AS
INFRASTRUCTURE, LAND USE, TRANSPORTATION, AND SOCIAL SERVICES, PLANNERS
CONTRIBUTE TO THE CREATION OF SUSTAINABLE AND THRIVING COMMUNITIES.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: A CORNERSTONE OF EFFECTIVE PLANNING
ENGAGING CITIZENS, STAKEHOLDERS, AND LOCAL VOICES IN THE PLANNING
PROCESS FOSTERS A SENSE OF OWNERSHIP AND ENSURES THAT POLICIES RESONATE
WITH THE ACTUAL NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITIES THEY AIM TO SERVE. INCLUSIVE
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT FOSTERS A SENSE OF OWNERSHIP AND ACCOUNTABILITY,
LEADING TO MORE EFFECTIVE AND WELL-ACCEPTED PLANNING OUTCOMES.
EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT OF PLANNERS: A BLEND OF EXPERTISE
THE EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND OF COMMUNITY PLANNERS IS A BLEND OF
INTERDISCIPLINARY KNOWLEDGE. RANGING FROM URBAN PLANNING, ARCHITECTURE,
AND GEOGRAPHY, TO SOCIOLOGY, PLANNERS ACQUIRE DIVERSE SKILLS TO ADDRESS THE
INTRICATE CHALLENGES POSED BY URBANIZATION. SUCH EDUCATIONAL BREADTH EQUIPS
THEM TO NAVIGATE THE EVOLVING URBAN LANDSCAPE WITH RESILIENCE AND EQUIPS
PLANNERS WITH THE NECESSARY TOOLS TO ADDRESS COMPLEX CHALLENGES AND CRAFT
WELL-ROUNDED SOLUTIONS FOR COMMUNITIES.
BALANCING TRADITION AND INNOVATION IN COMMUNITY PLANNING
COMMUNITIES OFTEN POSSESS HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE THAT
INFLUENCES THEIR IDENTITY. WHILE EMBRACING INNOVATION IS VITAL FOR PROGRESS,
PRESERVING CULTURAL HERITAGE IS EQUALLY CRUCIAL. SKILLED COMMUNITY PLANNERS
STRIKE A BALANCE BETWEEN INTEGRATING MODERN ADVANCEMENTS AND HONORING
TRADITIONAL VALUES, ENSURING THAT DEVELOPMENT RESPECTS THE UNIQUE
CHARACTER OF EACH COMMUNITY.
ELEMENTS OF COMMUNITY STRUCTURE:
A COMMUNITY'S STRUCTURE IS A DYNAMIC COMPOSITION OF VARIOUS
INTERRELATED ELEMENTS THAT COLLECTIVELY SHAPE ITS IDENTITY, INTERACTIONS, AND
FUNCTIONS. THESE ELEMENTS PROVIDE THE FRAMEWORK WITHIN WHICH COMMUNITY
MEMBERS CONNECT, COLLABORATE, AND THRIVE. UNDERSTANDING THESE ELEMENTS IS
CRUCIAL FOR EFFECTIVE URBAN PLANNING, DEVELOPMENT, AND FOSTERING A SENSE OF
BELONGING. HERE ARE SOME KEY ELEMENTS OF COMMUNITY STRUCTURE:
1. PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE:
THE TANGIBLE ASPECTS OF A COMMUNITY, INCLUDING BUILDINGS, ROADS,
PUBLIC SPACES, AND UTILITIES, CONSTITUTE ITS PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE. THE
ARRANGEMENT AND DESIGN OF THESE ELEMENTS INFLUENCE HOW PEOPLE
MOVE, INTERACT, AND ENGAGE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.
2. SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS:
INSTITUTIONS SUCH AS SCHOOLS, RELIGIOUS CENTERS, COMMUNITY
CENTERS, AND LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS FORM THE SOCIAL BACKBONE OF A
COMMUNITY. THESE INSTITUTIONS FACILITATE EDUCATION, CULTURAL ACTIVITIES,
SOCIAL GATHERINGS, AND SUPPORT NETWORKS, ENHANCING SOCIAL COHESION.
3. CULTURAL SPACES:
SPACES DESIGNATED FOR CULTURAL EXPRESSION, SUCH AS MUSEUMS,
THEATERS, ART GALLERIES, AND CULTURAL FESTIVALS, PLAY A PIVOTAL ROLE IN
PRESERVING AND CELEBRATING THE COMMUNITY'S HERITAGE, FOSTERING A
SENSE OF PRIDE AND IDENTITY.
4. ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES:
THE ECONOMIC FABRIC OF A COMMUNITY ENCOMPASSES BUSINESSES,
MARKETS, EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, AND ENTREPRENEURIAL VENTURES.
THE AVAILABILITY OF ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES SHAPES LIVELIHOODS AND SUSTAINS
LOCAL ECONOMIES.
5. SOCIAL NETWORKS:
CONNECTIONS AMONG COMMUNITY MEMBERS CREATE A WEB OF
RELATIONSHIPS THAT PROMOTE SOCIAL INTERACTION, COOPERATION, AND
SHARED EXPERIENCES. THESE NETWORKS PROVIDE EMOTIONAL SUPPORT,
INFORMATION EXCHANGE, AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR COLLABORATION.
6. COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS:
LOCAL ASSOCIATIONS, CLUBS, AND GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS PROVIDE
PLATFORMS FOR RESIDENTS TO ENGAGE WITH SHARED INTERESTS, ADVOCATE FOR
CHANGE, AND COLLECTIVELY ADDRESS COMMUNITY ISSUES.
7. PUBLIC SERVICES:
A WELL-FUNCTIONING COMMUNITY OFFERS ESSENTIAL PUBLIC SERVICES
SUCH AS HEALTHCARE, EDUCATION, SANITATION, AND PUBLIC SAFETY. ACCESSIBLE
AND QUALITY SERVICES CONTRIBUTE TO RESIDENTS' WELL-BEING AND ENHANCE
OVERALL QUALITY OF LIFE.
8. CIVIC ENGAGEMENT:
ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN DECISION-MAKING PROCESSES AND COMMUNITY
INITIATIVES FOSTERS CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. RESIDENTS' INVOLVEMENT IN SHAPING
POLICIES AND PROJECTS EMPOWER THEM TO INFLUENCE THE DIRECTION OF THEIR
COMMUNITY'S DEVELOPMENT.
9. BUILT ENVIRONMENT:
THE ARRANGEMENT OF BUILDINGS, OPEN SPACES, AND TRANSPORTATION
NETWORKS DEFINES THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT. THOUGHTFUL DESIGN CAN
PROMOTE WALKABILITY, ACCESSIBILITY, AND AESTHETICS, ENCOURAGING
COMMUNITY INTERACTIONS.
10.COMMUNICATION CHANNELS:
EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION PLATFORMS, BOTH PHYSICAL AND DIGITAL,
ENABLE COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO STAY INFORMED, SHARE IDEAS, AND
COLLABORATE. OPEN CHANNELS ENHANCE TRANSPARENCY AND INCLUSIVITY IN
DECISION-MAKING.
11.CULTURAL DIVERSITY:
THE PRESENCE OF DIVERSE CULTURES, LANGUAGES, AND TRADITIONS
ENRICHES A COMMUNITY'S SOCIAL FABRIC. EMBRACING CULTURAL DIVERSITY
FOSTERS TOLERANCE, CROSS-CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING, AND A SENSE OF
GLOBAL CONNECTEDNESS.
12.ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY:
A COMMUNITY'S RELATIONSHIP WITH ITS NATURAL SURROUNDINGS
AFFECTS ITS RESILIENCE AND QUALITY OF LIFE. INCORPORATING GREEN SPACES,
SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES, AND ECO-FRIENDLY INFRASTRUCTURE CAN CONTRIBUTE
TO ENVIRONMENTAL WELL-BEING.
THE NATIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR PHYSICAL PLANNING ADVOCATES THAT LAND
USE, PHYSICAL, AND RELATED PLANNING ACTIVITIES SHALL PROCEED WITHIN THE
CONTEXT OF PRINCIPLES THAT SUPPORT SUSTAINABLE ALLOCATION AND USE OF LAND
AND WATER RESOURCES. THESE PRINCIPLES INCLUDE:
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FOOD SECURITY
ENVIRONMENTAL STABILITY AND ECOLOGICAL INTEGRITY
RATIONAL URBAN DEVELOPMENT
SPATIAL INTEGRATION
EQUITABLE ACCESS TO PHYSICAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES
PRIVATE-PUBLIC SECTOR PARTNERSHIP
 PEOPLE EMPOWERMENT
 RECOGNITION OF THE RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE
 MARKET ORIENTATION
THE FRAMEWORK AIMS FOR THE USE OF THE COUNTRY’S LAND AND OTHER
PHYSICAL RESOURCES THAT YIELDS THE GREATEST ECONOMIC BENEFIT TO BOTH THE
PRESENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS.
THE NEXUS BETWEEN COMMUNITY AND ARCHITECTURE IN EDUCATION
STUDYING THE INTERRELATION BETWEEN COMMUNITY AND ARCHITECTURE IS
ESSENTIAL FOR ASPIRING ARCHITECTS AND PLANNERS. IT ENHANCES THEIR ABILITY TO
DESIGN SPACES THAT CATER TO THE DIVERSE NEEDS OF COMMUNITIES WHILE
RESPECTING THEIR UNIQUE IDENTITIES. INCORPORATING COMMUNITY-CENTRIC
APPROACHES INTO ARCHITECTURAL EDUCATION ENSURES THAT FUTURE PROFESSIONALS
ARE EQUIPPED TO CREATE INCLUSIVE, FUNCTIONAL, AND SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENTS.
ISSUES AND OPPORTUNITIES
THERE IS A NEED TO:
1. ADDRESS THE CONSEQUENCES OF HUMAN ACTIVITY ON THE ENVIRONMENT,
PARTICULARLY THE ROLE OF URBANIZATION AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT IN GLOBAL
ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE.
2. EXAMINE THE NETWORK OF URBAN ECOSYSTEMS IN THE COUNTRY AND HOW THEY
CAN DEVELOP IN A SUSTAINABLE MANNER, EQUALLY DRIVING GROWTH AS WELL AS
REDUCING THE ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT, AND PRESERVING BIOCAPACITY.
3. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SPATIAL TRENDS BORNE OF ECONOMIC GROWTH. THIS MUST BE
DONE IN ORDER TO SPREAD THE BENEFITS OF REGIONAL AGGLOMERATION. SPATIAL AND
ECONOMIC STRATEGIES NEED TO BE ALIGNED TO ENSURE THAT SMALLER, OUTLYING
AREAS BENEFIT FROM THE RAPID URBANIZATION AND INNOVATION WITHIN NEARBY
GROWTH HUBS. INFRASTRUCTURE AND URBAN SERVICES, SHELTER, AND SETTLEMENT
PLANNING ARE PREREQUISITES OF URBAN EXPANSION AND INTEGRATION.
4. DEMONSTRATE SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH THE CREATIVE COMBINATION OF THE BUILT
AND THE UNBUILT ENVIRONMENT, OR URBAN FORM. URBAN FORM IS NOT A PASSIVE
OUTCOME OF DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES. IT REFERS TO THE WAY FUTURE POPULATION
AND RELATED ACTIVITIES ARE ACTIVELY ORGANIZED AND DISTRIBUTED OVER THE
TERRITORY TO ENSURE SAFE AND SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENTS FOR HUMAN
HABITATION.
TABLE 1: COHERENCE OF THE NUDHF PRINCIPLES AND THE PHILIPPINE NEW
URBAN AGENDA
THE NATIONAL URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND HOUSING FRAMEWORK (NUDHF)
2017-2022 ADOPTS THE COUNTRY’S VISION OF URBAN DEVELOPMENTS ARTICULATED IN
THE PHILIPPINE NEW URBAN AGENDA:
“BETTER, GREENER, SMARTER URBAN SYSTEMS IN A MORE INCLUSIVE PHILIPPINES.”
URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE AND BASIC SERVICES
FOR A SYSTEM TO THRIVE, IT MUST BE STRUCTURED SO THAT ALL COMPONENTS
PERFORM EFFICIENTLY, AND ARE FUNCTIONALLY LINKED TO ACHIEVING OVERALL
PRODUCTIVITY WHILE MAINTAINING CAPACITY.
1. WATER AND SANITATION
A. STREAMLINE POLICIES AND IMPROVE THE REGULATORY FRAMEWORK TO ENSURE
SUSTAINABLE WATER SECURITY IN URBAN AREAS.
B. PROMOTE AND SUPPORT INNOVATIVE WATER AND SANITATION TECHNOLOGIES.
C. SUPPORT FINANCING FOR CLIMATE AND DISASTER-RESILIENT WATER AND SANITATION
INFRASTRUCTURE.
D. STRENGTHEN LOCAL GOVERNMENT CAPACITY ON WATER AND SANITATION
GOVERNANCE.
2. ENERGY (SUSTAINABLE/RENEWABLE)
A. INCREASE ENERGY SOURCING FROM LOW-CARBON AND OTHER CLEAN ENERGY
TECHNOLOGIES.
B. STREAMLINE PROCEDURES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF RENEWABLE ENERGY
PROJECTS, TO IMPROVE THE EASE OF DOING BUSINESS.
C. PROMOTE ENERGY EFFICIENCY.
D. EXPLORE AND IMPLEMENT TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH AND FUNDING MECHANISMS
THAT SUPPORT SMALL-SCALE RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS.
3. DRAINAGE
A. BUILD A COMPREHENSIVE DATABASE OF DRAINAGE AND WATERWAYS.
B. IMPROVE PUBLIC INVESTMENT IN INFRASTRUCTURE FOR DRAINAGE NETWORKS.
C. ENSURE THE USE OF LOCAL CLIMATE CHANGE AND DISASTER RISK PROJECTIONS IN
DESIGNING DRAINAGE NETWORKS AND RELATED INFRASTRUCTURE.
4. WASTE MANAGEMENT
A. ENCOURAGE COMMUNITY-BASED WASTE MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS.
B. ADOPT MODERN TECHNOLOGY AND SYSTEMS IN MONITORING SOLID WASTE
MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS.
C. DEVELOP INTER-LGU COORDINATED WASTE MANAGEMENT PLANS FOR EFFICIENT
REGIONAL MOBILIZATION OF RESOURCES.
5. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
A. OPEN UP INVESTMENTS IN ICT.
B. ESTABLISH A NATIONAL BROADBAND NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE.
C. ENSURE ACCESS TO GOVERNMENT-OWNED DATA, INCLUDING GEOSPATIAL DATA, IN
ORDER TO IMPROVE PLANNING AND ENSURE TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN
GOVERNMENT SERVICES.
D. UTILIZE ICT IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF SMART CITIES AND IMPROVEMENT OF SERVICES
TO SUPPORT TRANSPORT AND DISASTER PLANNING.
CONCLUSION
IN CONCLUSION, A COMMUNITY IS NOT MERELY A GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION BUT
A COMPLEX WEB OF SOCIAL, CULTURAL, AND ECONOMIC INTERACTIONS. COMMUNITY
PLANNERS ACT AS STEWARDS OF THESE INTERACTIONS, UTILIZING THEIR DIVERSE
EXPERTISE TO SHAPE COMMUNITIES THAT FLOURISH. THE INTRICATE TAPESTRY OF
URBAN DEVELOPMENT WEAVES TOGETHER THE THREADS OF COMMUNITY ASPIRATIONS,
THE EXPERTISE OF PLANNERS, THE GUIDANCE OF NATIONAL FRAMEWORKS, AND THE
ENGAGEMENT OF ALL STAKEHOLDERS. BY UNDERSTANDING THE NUANCES OF
COMMUNITY DYNAMICS, PLANNERS CAN CRAFT SOLUTIONS THAT CATER TO THE NEEDS
AND ASPIRATIONS OF THE PEOPLE THEY SERVE.
SOURCES:
NATIONAL URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND HOUSING FRAMEWORK | UN-HABITAT.
HTTPS://UNHABITAT.ORG/NATIONAL-URBAN-DEVELOPMENT-AND-HOUSING-FRAMEWORK
(N.D.).
CHOGUILL, C. L. (1996). URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND CIVIL SOCIETY: THE ROLE OF COMMUNITIES IN
SUSTAINABLE CITIES. ROUTLEDGE. HTTPS://WWW.ROUTLEDGE.COM/URBAN-DEVELOPMENT-ANDCIVIL-SOCIETY-THE-ROLE-OF-COMMUNITIES-IN-SUSTAINABLE/CARLEY-JENKINSSMITH/P/BOOK/9781853837173
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AND
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HTTPS://WWW.RESEARCHGATE.NET/PUBLICATION/248587488_JOHN_ZEISEL_INQUIRY_BY_DESIGN_EN
VIRONMENTBEHAVIORNEUROSCIENCE_IN_ARCHITECTURE_INTERIORS_LANDSCAPE_AND_PLANNING_
WW_NORTON_CO_NEW_YORK_2006_ISBN_0-393-73184-7_400PP_3495PAPERBACK