NDMU and DHSUD Region XII Formalize Partnership to Strengthen Planners’ Network through MOU Signing

Notre Dame of Marbel University (NDMU) and the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Regional Office XII officially strengthened their collaboration through the ceremonial signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) during the Planners’ Network and Technical Briefing held on January 29, 2026, at the Greenleaf Hotel, General Santos City. The MOU signing formed part of the program’s morning session, alongside the Collaborative Forum on building the Planners’ Network through NGA–Academe–APO–LGU partnerships.

Representing NDMU in this milestone partnership were Bro. Paterno S. Corpus, FMS, Ed.D., University President, Engr. Rolly S. Tambe, MSCE, Dean of the College of Engineering, Architecture and Computing (CEAC), and Ar. Gladys Amor D. Bautista, MArch, UAP, Architecture Program Coordinator.

The MOU establishes a collaborative framework between DHSUD Region XII and NDMU aimed at operationalizing the Planners’ Network in Region XII and strengthening the technical capacities of local government units (LGUs) in land use planning and urban development. The partnership focuses on enhancing the formulation and implementation of Comprehensive Land Use Plans (CLUPs), Local Urban Design Guides (LUDGs), and Open Space Development Plans (OSDPs), aligned with the Department’s Resilient Urban Design and Development (RUDD) and Open Space Development (OSD) Guidelines.

Under the agreement, both institutions committed to joint initiatives in research, technical studies, policy support, training, and capacity-building activities for LGUs and members of the Planners’ Network. DHSUD Region XII will lead the coordination and sustainability of the Network, while facilitating workshops, forums, and technical briefings to promote knowledge-sharing across sectors.

NDMU, on the other hand, will integrate RUDD and OSD concepts into its BS Architecture curriculum, mobilize faculty and students to support LGU planning initiatives, provide technical critiques and research assistance, and serve as resource persons in trainings and development activities of the Network. The University will also showcase innovative planning practices through academic platforms to further enrich urban development strategies in the region.

Speaking during the event, Bro. Paterno S. Corpus reaffirmed NDMU’s commitment to being a strong academic partner in advancing sustainable, inclusive, and resilient human settlements in Region XII. The formalization of this partnership reflects the University’s mission to extend its expertise beyond the classroom and contribute meaningfully to regional development efforts.

Through this MOU, NDMU and DHSUD Region XII mark a significant step toward building a collaborative planning ecosystem—one that harnesses academic knowledge, government leadership, and multi-sectoral cooperation to shape smarter and more resilient communities across SOCCSKSARGEN.