However, the PBGEA responded by bringing the issue to the Court of Appeals. And if the CA rules in favor of the petitioners, its decision could also be used against the aerial spray ban passed by the Provincial Board of Bukidnon, Davao City Councilor Leonardo Avila III warned.
Bukidnon had imposed the ban since 2001.
Avila, environment committee chair, told a crowd attending a brief program here recently that the interest of the people of Bukidnon is also at stake with the filing of PBGEA’s petition at the appellate court (see related story).
He said that in case the CA rules Davao City’s ordinance as unconstitutional the plantations in Bukidnon could use the decision to also question the aerial spray ban in the province.
Glenn Peduche, environment committee chair of Bukidnon’s provincial board, told MindaNews they would do what they can to support Davao City's ordinance and to defend the province's own legislation from any legal challenge.
The provincial board passed a resolution last week supporting and commending Davao City's aerial spray ban ordinance.
Avila said Bukidnon's ordinance became one of the bases and references when the Davao city council approved a similar legislation last year.
He told MindaNews the ordinance is an assertion of the power of local governments to protect the environment and welfare of its constituents.
He told radio station dxDB that the people should be vigilant against threats to health and the environment coming from toxic chemicals used in spraying. He said the people should not left these matters in the hands of operators of agricultural plantations.
The councilor joined a campaign caravan last week organized by the Mamamayan Ayaw sa Aerial Spraying (MAAS) from Davao City to Cagayan de Oro City via Malaybalay City.
Peduche, his counterpart at the Bukidnon provincial board, also spoke at the program to express support to the campaign. (Walter I. Balane/MindaNews)
