FORMULATION OF A MASTER PLAN FOR THE SUSTAINABLE URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT IN GENERAL SANTOS CITY
(2019)

Client and Funding Source: National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA)
Partner: EDCOP, PRIMEX and CEST
Contract duration: 2019
Development Themes: clean water and sanitation (SDG 6); industry, innovation, and infrastructure (SDG 9); sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11)

General Santos City is the only highly urbanized city in Region 12 (Soccsksargen). The city’s sustainable development is critical to the region’s vision of becoming an agri-industrial hub and ecotourism center in southern Philippines. Having an international-standard port and airport, the city already serves as a trans-shipment hub of the country. It is also part of the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asia Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA). Under the tri-corridor development strategy of Soccsksargen, General Santos City is the growth pillar of the Isulan-General Santos Agri-Industrial and Eco-Tourism Corridor, which promotes high-value commercial crops, agri-based products, fishery-based products (the city being the country’s Tuna Capital), and information communication technology (ICT).

The formulation of the Master Plan for the development of sustainable urban infrastructure in General Santos City is aimed at addressing issues and challenges faced by the city that are brought about by rapid urbanization. In terms of international commitments, the formulation of the Master Plan is in line with Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 6 (clean water and sanitation), 9 (industry, innovation, and infrastructure), and 11 (sustainable cities and communities). OIDCI as lead firm of the joint venture for the project deployed a multi-disciplinary team of experts for the plan formulation.

The Master Plan will provide the overall framework that will guide policy-makers, local chief executives and program/project implementers in the provision of the necessary policy, regulatory, and strategic and integrated infrastructure intervention in General Santos City. The Master Plan will contain a short-, medium-, and long-term infrastructure investment program that contributes to agreed development goals on inclusive growth, ecosystem protection and conservation, culture and heritage preservation, climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction, water quality improvement and upgrading of human settlements. It will outline a sponsorship strategy for all levels (local, regional, national, etc.) for championing, funding, and implementing identified priority programs, activities, and projects. Close coordination with stakeholders during plan formulation is aimed to harmonize the individual and collective actions of various stakeholders, and improve overall governance.