MANILA- A new law mandates state universities and colleges (SUCs) to design development and infrastructure plans for the proper management of land resources.

Republic Act No. 11396, signed by President Rodrigo Duterte on Aug. 22, requires all SUCs to submit their respective Land Use Development and Infrastructure Plan (LUDIP) to the Commission on Higher Education.

SUCs are required to follow their respective development plans for all of their future infrastructure projects.

"All land use or infrastructure projects of the SUCs shall also be required to follow the LUDIP which shall be linked with the land use plan and practice of the local government units to ensure complementation of activities across geographical boundaries," the measure stated.

Under the new law, SUCs must submit the following as part of their LUDIP:

- campus planning framework, principles and processes, including master development plans

- detailed geographical description and survey of the site occupied by the SUCs

- inventory of all existing buildings, facilities, and other infrastructure within the compound or areas occupied by the SUCs

- cadastral survey of land occupied by the SUCs

- detailed description of the research core, academic core, and residential areas covering both housing for faculty, and dormitories for students

- detailed geographical description of land used for commerical, agriculture, fishery, forestry, and other activities, including open and recreational spaces, landscape features, and campus transportation system among others.

- design and estimated cost of construction, operation, maintenance of other infrastructure needs of the SUCs

- financial plan

The following agencies may also help SUCs in making their development and infrastructure plans:

- Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board

- University of the Philippines School of Urban and Regional Planning

- Department of Public Works and Highways

- Land Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources

The measure meanwhile tasks the CHEd, UP-SURP, and HLURB to design capacity building programs for SUCs to enable them to develop and prepare suitable land use plans.