The period of nineties
(90's) onward was characterized as a period of massive
global urbanization. The trend was expected to continue
into the next millennium. In Metro Manila and suburbs,
serious environmental problems such as, among others,
traffic congestion, insufficient solid waste disposal sites
and, poor air quality have actually worsened over time.
Similarly, the deteriorating or greatly deteriorated
environments in many Asian cities and urban centers could
hardly be supported by their current levels of urban
services and resources. This situation was further
aggravated by the pressures and demands of an
ever-increasing urban population.
The existing situation
gave rise to the urgent need for urban planning. The
eventual popularization of planning ushered in a new
administration under the leadership of Dr. Benjamin V.
Cariño. The formidable task laid out by the 1991 Local
Government Code of devolving the planning functions to the
local government units became an added challenge to the
School. This defined the direction of Dean Cariño's
nine-year term. Activities and programs for teaching,
training, research, and extension services were all geared
toward assisting local government units in the preparation
of their Comprehensive Land Use Plans or CLUPs, as well as
in the development of a pool of professional planners at the
local level.
To address the growing demand for capable professional urban
and regional planners, the School increased its degree
offerings. In June 1992, the Diploma in Land Use Planning
was offered for the first time. A total of 20 students from
all over the country enrolled in the one-year program.
The Master of Arts in Transport Planning was also introduced
in coordination with the
National Center for Transportation
Studies (NCTS).
The School maintained its linkages with various government
agencies such as the NEDA- NLUC where it contributed
substantially in the drafting of the National Land Use Act.
Through its Training Unit, the School conducted four
trainings between 1992 and 1993. Among the more
significant ones are the Training on Metropolitan and Urban
Planning of Baguio City, La Trinidad, Itogon, Sablan, and
Tuba (BLIST); the Seminar-Workshop on Investment Programming
funded by the Natural Resources Management and Development
Project (NRMDP) and the Training Program for Metro Manila
Authority-ODGMP and Local Planning Staff of Metro Manila
cities and municipalities.
In the mid-nineties, the Master of Arts program in Regional
Development Planning (SPRING-Asia) was launched. SPRING, an
acronym for Spatial Planning for Regions in Growing
Economies, is a professional graduate program in
regional and district development planning and management
jointly offered by the
University of Dortmund, Federal
Republic of Germany, and the University of the Philippines
through SURP. The program entailed joint research and
faculty exchange.
In an effort to expand
its diploma degree program, the School implemented an
off-campus program for Public Estates Authority (PEA) staff
in 1995. Between 1994 and 1997, the School saw a few new
faces in its faculty: Dr. Olegario G. Villoria, Jr. in 1994;
Dr. Hussein S. Lidasan, Dr. David T. Yap in 1995; Dr. Rachel
H. Racelis in 1997; and Dr. Mario delos Reyes in 1999.
In line with
its thrust to democratize
access to its graduate programs, the School established a
Diploma program in Urban and Regional Planning in the
campuses of U.P. in Cebu and Davao City. It assigned as
course coordinators Professors Manuel L. Javier in U.P.
Mindanao and Marqueza L. Reyes in Cebu. In 1997, the
diploma program expanded to U.P. in Iloilo with Professor
Llena P. Buenvenida as course coordinator. The following
year, the program was introduced in U.P. Baguio with
Professor Carmelita R.E.U Liwag as overall coordinator. In
1998, a Master in Urban and Regional Planning program was
established in U.P. Mindanao.
In the area of extension work and consultancy, the School
through its foundation,
U.P. PLANADES, played a
very active role in various planning-related studies as well
as in the preparation of Comprehensive Land Use Plans of
cities and municipalities all over the country.
Toward the end of his term,
Dean Cariño appointed new members to the faculty, namely:
Prof. Carmelita R.E. U. Liwag, Dr. Marideth R. Bravo, and
Dr. Cresencio M. Montalbo, Jr. After completing his
third term as Dean of the School on June 30, 2001, Dr.
Cariño was succeeded by Professor Dolores Endriga.
