The growing complexity and variety of urban problems in the Philippines translate to a resounding demand for competent planners at the local level. With this, there should be a continuous pursuit of identifying the competencies that local planners should have in order to survive and thrive in their challenging and dynamic work environment.
This study intends to address the limited published studies on the identification, consolidation, and ranking of planning-related competencies in developing countries like the Philippines. Through its exploratory sequential design, this study developed and validated a competency framework detailing the knowledge, skills, and personal characteristics (KSPs) aligned with local planning work. This was based on the perspectives of select local planners from Cavite and Quezon provinces and subject matter experts from the academe, national government agencies, and professional organizations.
Of the identified personal characteristics, most local planners considered being a team player, flexibility, integrity, strategic thinking, future orientation, timeliness, creative thinking, and humility as very important. On knowledge items, local planners valued the mastery of comprehensive land use and development larming processes and familiarity of basic concepts related to the five development sectors, especially the social, infrastructure. and environmental sectors. On the other hand, among the highly valued skills were related to primary data collection, basic computer operations, listening, technical writing, vision and goal setting, presenting ideas, and interpreting and applying planning policies. This study has also identified the characteristics of the individual planner, the planning organization, and the locality that are associated with the valuation of competencies. With these findings, this study provides recommendations vital in reexamining and improving the planning practice, education, and training.