IN PHOTO (L-R): Architect Grace Ramos of Grandt Planners, Inc.; Atimonan One Energy, Inc. (A1E) Development Manager Christopher Chua; Atimonan Mayor Rustico Joven Mendoza; MERALCO PowerGen (MGen) President & CEO Rogelio Singson; and MGen Executive Vice President and COO Dan Neil during the Comprehensive Land Use Plan Turnover Ceremony last March 25.
The Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) for the town of Atimonan in Quezon has been turned over to the local government during a small ceremony held in the municipality last March 25.
The CLUP is a planning document prepared by cities and municipalities to rationalize the allocation and proper use of its land resources. It maps out the public and private land uses, which shall be enacted through a zoning ordinance.
Atimonan’s CLUP was a product of a series of discussions and planning sessions that were conducted in 2018.
Atimonan Mayor Rustico Joven Mendoza led the delegation of local government unit (LGU) leaders who received the documents from Grandt Planners, Inc. (GPI) and Atimonan One Energy, Inc. (A1E).
GPI and A1E provided assistance for the development of the CLUP, which charts Atimonan’s development as an agro-industrial center, anchored on agriculture and tourism.
“This CLUP seeks to achieve a synchronized development, supported by an adaptive infrastructure system in Atimonan,” Mayor Mendoza said during the turnover ceremony.
The official said he was grateful for GPI and A1E in helping Atimonan realize this plan, further acknowledging the power company as a key partner in creating a progressive and modern Atimonan.
Rogelio L. Singson, President and Chief Executive Officer of MERALCO Powergen Corporation (MGen), in his speech said that A1E is one with the local government unit in pushing for the progress of Atimonan.
MGen is the parent company of A1E, the developer of the planned 1,200-megawatt (MW) high efficiency, low emissions (HELE) coal-fired power plant that is among the key infrastructures expected to rise in Atimonan in the future.
“We all agree that what we want to happen in Atimonan is for the common good of everyone,” Mr. Singson said, noting that MGen aspires to set a standard of excellence not only in power plant operations but also in developing and engaging host communities to make them progressive and sustainable.
Mr. Singson added: “We put the local communities at the heart of what we do. We want to ensure that as our projects progress, our communities grow and develop with us.”
The assistance for the development of CLUP was provided in an underlying memorandum agreement between A1E and the Atimonan LGU.
Under the agreement, A1E would provide assistance in the preparation of a study that optimizes socio-economic benefits from the power plant development. A1E tapped GPI as a third-party consultant to aid the municipality in development strategies that can serve as basis for the CLUP and zoning ordinances.