Urban voids in a city center or poblacion are a problem that can be viewed as a potential for development. The local government could provide solutions for these urban voids to positively impact a town’s poblacion district. It could increase socio-economic activity and attract more investors within the abundant commercial and institutional areas. 

Mr. Karl Wendel C. Magno gave these insights in his thesis, “Uncovering the Potential of Urban Voids in Davao City: An Analysis of the Poblacion District.”

 The unutilized, underutilized, and abandoned land areas in a poblacion are types of urban voids. These are created by natural, geographical, political, economic, or sociocultural factors. High imposed taxes and community disputes are common causes of urban voids. He said that the majority of these factors arise from lapses between the community and the local barangay councils and may be solved through coordination and planning. 

He also recommended that local stakeholders study the ecological dynamics between the living inhabitants, the spaces, and buildings, how these elements co-exist, and their relevance to each other. 

Magno was one of the five presenters at the Research Colloquium 2023 of the Master of Arts in Urban and Regional Planning (MAURP) program conducted by the University of the Philippines Mindanao Department of Architecture on May 20, 2023, at UP Mindanao. Steven Adrianne M. Chua presented "Improving the Quality of Life in Phil. Navy On-site Housing," Vherna C. Comagon studied "The Effectiveness of Community-based Conservation in Agusan Marsh." Aisa C. Samson discussed "Disaster Preparedness of Existing Land Use in Tandag City," and Rachel Mae P. Sitcharon presented "Management Regimes and Sustainable Structural Dimensions of Floating Houses in Agusan Marsh."