The ZAMPEN-BASULTA Chapter of the Philippine Institute of Environmental Planners (PIEP) successfully hosted a mass oath taking of thirty-seven (37) licensed Environmental Planners last August 24, 2018 at the Centro Latino, Paseo Del Mar. No less than the Honorable Commissioner of the Environmental Planning Board, Lirio T. Abuyuan, administered the oath taking of thirty-seven (37) new licensed Environmental Planners from Zamboanga Peninsula and Basilan.

Six (6) of the thirty-seven (37) oath takers were professionals from the City Government of Zamboanga, headed by Assistant Department Head Eduardo M. Bisquera, Jr. of the Office of the City Environment and Natural Resources (OCENR), Olive R. Baird and Marie June DR. Urmanita of the Office of the City Planning and Development Coordinator (OCPDC), Rhemar C. Bayato and Ludweig P. Look of the Office City Agriculturist, and Nova Jane C. Lacbao of the Office of the City Assessor.

A seminar on the Utilization of Spatial Data for Planning and Evaluation was conducted in the afternoon of the same day with PIEP Chapter President Engr./EnP Rodrigo S. Sicat and EnP Jihan Adil serving as resource persons. The afternoon seminar, which aimed to improve professional competencies of the participants in evidence-based planning and evaluation, was attended by forty-two (42) Environmental Planners.

The Environmental Planning profession, also known as urban, regional, town or city planning, involves the multi-disciplinary art and science of analyzing, managing and regulating the use and development of land and water resources for the sustainable development of communities and ecosystems. – JCBL, RESD