Project Title & Location
CAMP LAPU LAPU DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK PLAN
Lahug, Cebu City

Client
Army Corps of Engineers
Philippine Army, AFP
Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City

Project Completion
2004

Associated Firms
PROS A&E Partnership
ECT Consulting Engineers
Leo Pariñas and Associates Architects

Services Provided
- Development Framework Planning

Nostalalgia runs high among the consittuent officers of Camp Lapu Lapu. The answers to their long-drawn out plans, set out so well by the military, are the catalysts that hold on to the the camp's dwindling area. A large part of the camp is orignally composed of lands donated by the Province of Cebu. With the impression by outsiders that the lands are idle, and with urban pressure casting the desire for vacant lands in the center of the city, the provincial government wants to claim back the unused portions of Camp Lapu Lapu. Conjunctively, informal settlers have uncontrollably occupied the unutilized areas that are suitable for developent. There is also the commercial neighbors that want to expand their interests into the military reservation. Given these pressures of development, the entry of the Army Corps of Enginers in the preparation of a development framework becomes of necessity. It begins wilth looking at alternative development scenarios on how to maximize day-to-day operations in the camp.

Despite the very short planning period, all units to be located in the camp have to make decisions on how development strategies shall be used in undertaking the succeeding tasks of detailed planning and design as well as the preparation of an implementation program. Timely phasing of development therefore becomes imperative.

The original land area consists of 114 hectares, while the planning area for military operations consists of 21 hectares. Several areas have conflicting land use occupancies that are being rationalized during this framework planning stage. Disposition of the army units are clustered so that functional uses are effectively and optimally organized. Support and commercial services are delineated in order to avoid excessive conflicts in military security arrangements. An added advantage of the approacxh is for communityness and bonding among personnel and households are given the opportunity to progress. This also anticipates prospects for off-camp housing development that consider faclilities already established in the camp.