World-renowned urban planning firm Palafox Associates visited Bayambang on September 20 to have a preliminary ocular inspection of the town and conduct a kick-off meeting with top LGU leaders and department heads for the formulation and updating of the town’s Comprehensive Land Use Program (CLUP).

Architect Felino ‘Jun’ Palafox Jr. was unable to make it due to prior commitment, but he was well-represented by his team headed by Environmental Planner Geniveve Ranchez and Operations Manager, Arch. Mike de Castro, together with other Palafox Assoc. architects and staff.

Meeting the team from Manila was Mayor Cezar T. Quiambao, the municipal councilors and all department heads, particularly the OIC of the Municipal Planning and Development Office Ma-lene S. Torio and her staff.

In his brief welcome speech, he said the reason the Palafox people were in town was “partly out of their love for Bayambang.”

“They are here to help us in international branding, in creating value for our town,” he said.

Ranchez noted that all the department heads needed to be present due to the multidisciplinary and multisectoral nature of the CLUP work involving a 16,800-hectare town of 116,426 people. The last time the CLUP was updated is reportedly in 2010.

Mayor Quiambao urged all the heads present to start to “think, dream, and imagine” for this grand project with a prestigious urban planning and architectural firm at the helm.