"Green Spaces" must be protected, preserved and expanded

Akbayan Partylist Nominee Tom Villarin

Akbayan party-list today welcomed the veto of the proposed Davao City ordinance which would have weakened or removed the 10 percent green space requirement in all subdivisions and urbanized areas.

“Preserving the integrity of our environmental safeguards must be upheld even as we pursue development,” said Tom Villarin, Akbayan nominee and a long-time advocate of sustainable development. “Developers should not skirt on their long-term responsibility to protect the environment in exchange for short-term convenience and profitability.”

On top of the mayor’s veto, “the resolve of citizens to guard Davao City’s environmental health and keep the city council’s overreach in check is a triumph of accountability and people power,” added Villarin, a resident of Davao City.

Akbayan reiterated that the passage of the ordinance did not satisfy free and prior informed consent requirements, as the Save Davao Green Spaces (SDGS) coalition had earlier demanded an explanation why there were no public hearings and consultations on the said measure. All city councilors except Councilor Mabel Acosta, approved the passage of the ordinance.