Wednesday, February 14, 2007 Avila wants deputized team to remove posters from trees By Grace L. Plata
DAVAO City Councilor Leonardo Avila III is set to propose a resolution requesting the Commission on Elections to deputize a team that will remove campaign materials posted on trees within the city.
Avila, who chairs the council's committee on environment and natural resources, said campaigning partylist groups and individual politicians have irresponsibly nailed, stapled their posters on trees, contributing to the death and devastation of nature.
In a privileged speech during Tuesday's session, Avila cited posters of senatorial candidate Manny Villar as one of those he had seen posted on trees.
"In five to six months after the elections, these trees may die due to the infection caused by the bacteria and viruses present in these (nails, staple wires) that have invaded the tree's system," Avila said.
He said the bark of the tree, which contains its life support system, when punctured will cause the slowdown of the travel of nutrients in the plants plus the bacteria from foreign bodies will contribute to the death or destruction of the plant.
Avila said this is not only harmful to the city's environment but it is also a violation of the election code's common poster areas.
"It is clear that in the code common poster areas, do not include trees," Avila said.
Avila said he hopes the people will be vigilant and really file cases against those who will post campaign materials on the city's trees as the death of these carbon-dioxide absorbers will mean more greenhouse gas that will contribute to a greater problem of global warming.
