Saturday, September 16, 2006
Editorial: Zoning
THE closure of Monte Maria Poultry Farms by the City Government for polluting the atmosphere of the neighborhood of Catalunan Grande should be a wake-up call to other business establishments similarly situated. The lesson is that it is risky to put up hazardous or pollutant business ventures in a heavily populated area such as Catalunan Grande.
Even granting that Monte Maria was ahead of the subdivisions in the area, it cannot be allowed to continue to the sufferance of the residence.
Isn't it that the owners of the ill-starred poultry firm belong to the same family that established one or two of the subdivisions in the area? Did the owners originally thought of relocating the poultry farmers, that's why they went ahead developing the subdivisions around it?
Under the law, aren't pollutant industries like poultry and hog-raising farms prohibited near human settlements like housing projects?
Whatever happened to the city's comprehensive zoning and development ordinance approved by the City Government a few years back? The ordinance was supposed to put order in the city's growth by classifying the city into various zones. This was an important document, which took the city government millions of pesos to produce. We believe that if strictly implemented, the zoning ordinance can preclude Monte Maria type of situations
If the zoning ordinance is only strictly followed, there will be less disputes of Monte Maria's nature. This can be true with the controversy that currently haunts the cavendish banana plantations, specifically those which employ aerial spraying in applying pesticides. Companies using potential pollutants may not be allowed to be established in human communities. In like manner, if the plantations have been established first in the area, no human settlement should be put up there.
If the zoning ordinance is not working we think it is high time to revisit and amend it if there is such a need.
For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (September 16, 2006 issue)
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