Practice question
A city seeks to prevent dengue. Reliable evidence identifies uncovered stagnant water as the breeding source. Instead of requiring drainage or covering containers, an ordinance permanently bans all indoor bookstores, even those with no water containers. Officials concede the ban does not reduce breeding and effective targeted measures are available. Assume proper enactment. Which is the strongest police-power conclusion?
- The ordinance is valid merely because disease prevention is legitimate.
- It is invalid because the means lack a reasonable relation to the objective and oppress lawful activity.
- It is valid because every indoor business is a nuisance by definition.
- It is invalid solely because a city may never regulate health risks.
- It is valid if called a sanitation ordinance.
Legal references
- White Light Corporation v. City of Manila, G.R. No. 122846, January 20, 2009, main decision: https://elibrary.judiciary.gov.ph/thebookshelf/showdocs/1/48715
- City of Manila v. Laguio, Jr., G.R. No. 118127, April 12, 2005, main decision: https://lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2005/apr2005/gr_118127_2005.html
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