This document provides an overview of the Environmental Planning Exam, including exam coverage, sample questions, and passing rate trends. The exam has 450 questions divided into 3 areas: Area I covers principles, concepts, theories and history (100 questions, 20% weight); Area II covers environmental planning processes, methods and strategies (200 questions, 45% weight); and Area III covers plan implementation, legal aspects and administration (150 questions, 35% weight). Sample questions are provided for each area to illustrate the types of concepts covered. The overview concludes with a table showing the number of passers and passing rates from 2007 to 2015, with the average passing rate being around 54%.

1. Environmental
Planning Exam
Overview

2. EXAM COVERAGE
Area I:
PRINCIPLES,
CONCEPTS,
THEORIES &
HISTORY
Qs: 100
W: 20%
A
Concepts,
Theories,
Principles
▪ Definition of concepts &
prinicples
▪ Role of planners
▪ Theories & advocates
B Cities
Definition, description, location &
characterization of cities, urban
areas & urbanization related
concepts
C Regions
▪ Characterization and
delineation of regions
▪ Regional Spatial Theories

3. EXAM COVERAGE
Area II:
ENVI’L
PLANNING
PROCESSES,
METHODS &
STRATEGIES
Qs: 200
W: 45%
D
Pre-requisites of
Planning
▪ Data requirements of plans
▪ Data-gathering & presentation
tools
▪ Maps: types, how to interpret,
uses & relevance
E
Comprehensive
Development
Plan
▪ Contents & function of CDP
▪ Process of preparation & core
concerns
▪ Indicators to monitor the plan
F Land Use Plan
▪ Process, contents & function
▪ Demand & Supply of Land,
Spatial strategies
▪ Enforcement & controls
G
Area
Development
Planning
Requirements & tools for sites of
specific uses: industrial estates,
special economic zones,
watersheds, riverbasins,
agricultural & coastal development

4. AREA III:
PLAN
IMPL’N
LEGAL
ASPECTS
& ADMIN
Qs: 150
W: 35%
H Legal Foundations
▪ Planning-related national &
sub-national laws &
requlations
▪ International agreements w/
implications on conservation,
protection & utilization of
natural resources
I
Program / Project
Development,
Management &
Implementation
Processes, monitoring &
analytical tools involved in P/P
planning & implementation
J
Planning
Administration &
Professional Practice
▪ Major public sector reform
measures relating to good
governance in planning
administration
▪ Concepts & terms in P/P
financing & public-private
sector participation
EXAM COVERAGE

5. ▪ Exam has 450 easy, medium and
difficult questions
▪ Area I
▪ 100Qs, 20% weight
▪ Area II
▪ 200Qs, 45% weight
▪ Area III
▪ 150Qs, 35% weight
EXAM COVERAGE in Summary

6. Area I: PRINCIPLES,
CONCEPTS, THEORIES &
HISTORY
Sample Questions

7. A. Concepts, Theories, Principles
The most iconic (1) proponent of the City Beautiful
Movement – a reform (2) philosophy that flourished
during the 1890s and 1900s with the intent of
introducing (3) beautification and monumental grandeur
in cities. He was also instrumental in the (4) plan
formulation of the City of Chicago in the US and the (5)
cities of Manila and Baguio in the Philippines.
a. Charles-Édouard Jeanneret-Gris or “Le Corbusier”
b. Daniel Burnham
c. Ebenezer Howard
d. Patrick Geddes
e. Arturo Soria y Mata
f. Kevin Lynch

8. B. Cities
Philippine laws pertain to / include the the following as urban areas ___
i. All barangays in the National Capital Region
ii. All cities and municipalities with a population density of at least 1,000 persons/ sq. km
iii. Poblaciones or dentral districts of municipalities w/ pop. density of at least 500 persons per
sq. km.
iv. Barangays that have a population size of 10,000 or more
v. Barangays that have at least one establishment with a minimum of 100 employees
vi. Barangays that have 5 or more establishments with a minimum of 10 employees, and 5 or
more facilities within the two-kilometer radius from the barangay hall
vii. Poblaciones or central districts of municipalities and cities which have a population density of
at least 2,000 persons / sq. km.
viii.Poblaciones or central districts of municipalities and cities w/c have the following:
– Street pattern or network of streets in either parallel or right angle orientation
– At least 6 establishments (commercial, manufacturing, etc.)
– Town hall, church or chapel with religious services at least once a month
– Public plaza, park or cemetery
– Market or any place where trading activities are carried out at least once a week
– Public building like a school, hospital, periculture and health centers or library
a. i, iii, iv, viii
b. i, ii, iii, v, vi, viii
c. ii, iv, v, vi, vii
d. ii, iv, vii, viii
e. i, ii, iii, iv, v, vi, vii, viii
Note: NSCB Resolution No. 9, series of 2003: ADOPTION OF THE
OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF URBAN AREAS IN THE
PHILIPPINES
http://www.nscb.gov.ph/resolutions/2003/9.asp

9. Ernest Burgess (1925) - propounded that as one moves out
of the CBD located in zone 1, land value decreases, there is
lesser accessibility, cheaper rent & activities are more
dispersed.Concentric Ring Theory
Homer Hoyt (1939) theorized that cities tended to grow in
wedge-shaped patterns or sectors, originating from the CBD
and along lines of transportation (railroad, highway, ports)
that creates a homogenous use. Compatible land uses are
adjacent to each other; incompatible uses repel each other .
Sector / Radial Model
Edward Ullman & Chauncey Harris (1945) posited that the
CBD is not the sole generator of change: there may be
several distinct nuclei wherein zones 1 & 7 are the CBD and
sub-CBD, respectively .
Multiple Nuclei Theory
B. Cities

10. The Philippines
has __ regions?
a. 17
b. 14
c. 15
d. 81
e. 35
C. Regions

11. Area II:
ENVIRONMENTAL
PLANNING PROCESSES,
METHODS & STRATEGIES
Sample Questions

12. D. Pre-requisites of Planning
An Erosion Potential Map is a type of
Analytical Map. It combines the following
maps to provide information on areas
that have a high tendency to experience
erosion and/or landslides:
i. Soil Map
ii. Slope Map
iii. Vegetation Map
iv. Cadastral Map
v. Rainfall Map
a. ii, iii and v
b.i, ii, iii and v
c. ii, iii and iv
d.i, iii and v

13. In 2012, the municipality of San
Jose has 14,111 residents with
the following cohort break-
down:
Male Female TOTAL
0-4 882 889
49875-9 832 837
10-14 766 781
15-19 752 749
8664
20-24 682 675
25-29 621 620
30-34 559 560
35-39 465 471
40-44 353 353
45-49 256 259
50-54 263 270
55-59 211 211
60-64 164 170
65-69 109 112
460
70-74 75 76
75-79 33 36
80+ 7 12
E. Comprehensive Development Plan
Which of the following statements is/are false?
i. Young dependents comprise 35% of the population (T)
ii. Approximately 4.6 out of 10 residents is a young
dependent
iii. The working population comprises 48% of the entire
population
iv. Approximately 61 out of 100 residents is considered to
be part of working population
v. Approximately 3 out of 100 residents is an old-age
dependent
vi. Old-age dependents comprise 5.63% of the population
a. All of the statements are false
b. Statements i, iv and v are false
c. Statements ii, iii and vi are false
d. None of the statements are true
TIP: (4987  (4987 + 8664 + 460) ) * 100
When you validate i (which will turn out as a true
statement)  you can cancel out a, b & d.

14. Which of the
following does
not belong to
the group?
a. NPFP
b. MTPDP
c. CLUP
d. PDPFP
F. Land Use Planning

15. There are 7 major steps involved in
formulating a Forest Land Use Plan (FLUP).
The proper sequence of this process should
be:
i. Situational analysis
ii. Data and Map Collection
iii. Plan Preparation
iv. Prioritization of Sub-watersheds and
Allocation of Forests and Forestlands
v. Legitimization
vi. Approval of Plan by DENR Region
vii. Plan Implementation
a. ii, i, iv, iii, v, vi, vii
b. ii, i, iv, iii. vi, v, vii
c. i, ii, iv, iii, v, vi, vii
d. i, iii, iii, iv, vi, v, vii
G. Area Development Planning
NOTE: Plans
concerned with
special areas, such
as: industrial
estates, special
economic zones,
watersheds, river
basins,
agricultural &
coastal
development

16. AREA III:
PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
LEGAL ASPECTS &
ADMINISTRATION
Sample Questions

17. “Mitigation” in the context of R.A. 10121 or the DRRM Act of 2010 ___
a. Refers to structural and non-structural measures undertaken to limit the adverse
impact of natural hazards, environmental degradation, and technological hazards
and to ensure the ability of at-risk communities to address vulnerabilities aimed
at minimizing the impact of disasters.
b. Refers to human intervention to address anthropogenic emissions by sources and
removals by sinks of all GHG, including ozone- depleting substances and their
substitutes. (Mitigation as defined under RA 9729: Climate Change Act)
c. Refers to the adjustment in natural or human systems in response to actual or
expected climatic stimuli or their effects, which moderates harm or exploits
beneficial opportunities. (Adaptation – under RA 9729: Climate Change Act)
d. Refers to the systematic approach and practice of managing uncertainty to
minimize potential harm and loss. It comprises risk assessment and analysis,
and the implementation of strategies and specific actions to control, reduce and
transfer risks. (Risk Management – under RA 10121: DRRM Act)
H. Legal Foundations
NOTE: There are terms that are so
commonly used that we do not bother
to define them ~
• Adaptation & Mitigation in CC & DRRM
• Local legal definition vs. international

18. I. Program / Project Development,
Management & Implementation
Which of the following does
not belong to the group?
a. Project Definition or
Preparation
b. Project Feasibility Study
c. Project Implementation
d. Project Approval &
Financing
e. None of the above

19. J. Planning Administration &
Professional Practice
Refers to the process of
which resources of land are
put to effect
a. Land Management
b. Land Administration
c. Land Tenure
d. Land Valuation
Refers to the processes of
determining, recording and
disseminating information about
the ownership, value and use of
land when implementing land
management policies
a. Land Management
b. Land Administration
c. Land Tenure
d. Land Valuation
NOTE: Sometimes, if you get 1 concept
wrong, you will likely also answer the item
with an associated concept incorrectly.

20. YEAR PASSERS
EXAM-
TAKERS
Passing
Rate
AVE. PASSING
RATE:
2007 19 36 52.8
54
2008 26 55 47.3
2009 34 63 54.0
2010 35 56 62.5
2011 51 86 59.3
2012 65 107 60.7
2013 71 138 51.4
2014 88 197 44.7
2015 178 357 49.9
PASSING RATE TRENDS
No. of License d
Planners:
+/- 1,154
Phil. Pop:101M

21. Thank You!
Maria Veronica Arreza – Arcilla, MA URP, EnP
vero.arcilla@gmail.com │ 0915 - 5265607
Senior Program Officer Director
UNICEF – IDEALS Access to Benefits &
Claims After Disaster (ABCD)
Philippine Institute of Envoironmental
Planners (PIEP)
V. Luna corner Mabilis St., Q.C. UP Diliman, Q.C.
(02) 4365470 (02) 9209705