Section 23. National Land Use Scheme. —

The Human Settlements Commission, in coordination with the appropriate agencies of the government, shall formulate and recommend to the National Environmental Protection Council a land use scheme consistent with the purpose of this Title.

The Land Use Scheme shall include among others, the following:

1. a science-based and technology-oriented land inventory and classification system;

2. a determination of present land uses, the extent to which they are utilized, underutilized, rendered idle or abandoned;

3. a comprehensive and accurate determination of the adaptability of the land for community development, agriculture, industry, commerce and other fields of endeavor;

4. a method of identification of areas where uncontrolled development could result in irreparable damage to important historic, cultural, or aesthetic values, or natural systems or processes of national significance;

5. a method for exercising control by the appropriate government agencies over the use of land in areas of critical environmental concern and areas impacted by public facilities including, but not limited to, airports, highways, bridges, ports and wharves, buildings and other infrastructure projects;

6. a method to ensure the consideration of regional development and land use in local regulations;

7. a policy for influencing the location of new communities and methods for assuring appropriate controls over the use of land around new communities;

8. a system of controls and regulations pertaining to areas and development activities designed to ensure that any source of pollution will not be located where it would result in a violation of any applicable environmental pollution control regulations; and

9. a recommended method for the periodic revisions and updating of the national land use scheme to meet changing conditions.