DENR suspends aerial spraying in Davao City
08/27/2009 | 12:02 PM
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has ordered the suspension of aerial spraying of pesticides and fungicides in banana plantations in the Davao City area.
Radio dzBB's Davao affiliate reported Thursday that Environment Secretary Jose “Lito" Atienza Jr. also ordered a study of the dangers of aerial spraying while the suspension is in effect.
Atienza said the suspension applies to Region 11, particularly in areas near residences.
Also, he ordered the creation of a buffer zone aerial spraying, to make sure traces of fungicide or pesticide would not get near homes.
In past months, residents, local Church groups and militants had voiced opposition to aerial spraying, citing its threat to residents' health.
Owners of banana plantations in Davao had succeeded in stopping the implementation of an ordinance of the Davao City Council banning aerial spraying and continued the practice since their court victory in January 2009.
On August 24, groups opposed to aerial spraying took their case to the Department of Health office in Manila. [See: Anti-aerial spraying advocates bring campaign to DOH]
Respiratory problems
A radio dzBB report on Monday said the Mamamayang Ayaw sa Aerial Spray (MAAS) made an appeal to Health Secretary Francisco Duque III to stop the practice, as it has caused skin and respiratory problems among residents of communities around banana plantations.
That same day, Mark Salazar of GMA’s QTV even quoted one of the protesters, Cecilia Moran (who has tuberculosis), as saying that aerial spraying practice has caused a host of diseases in communities.
Also on August 24, the National Task Force Against Aerial Spraying (NTFAAS) welcomed DENR's August 14 directive to look into the issue.
The group said that Atienza has instructed Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) director Julian Amador to coordinate with banana growers "to ensure temporary suspension of aerial spraying close to residential communities or, if not possible, provide adequate buffer zones to prevent drift of fungicides/pesticides."
For its part, the Filipino Banana Growers & Exporters Association (PBGEA) lauded Atienza's directive for stressing on "the conduct of a comprehensive study on the safe use, hazards, and protection measures pertaining to aerial spraying."
According to PBGEA, EMB's Amador had visited the communities around banana plantations in Davao recently and had been told by local officials that "none of the residents have suffered from ailments related to aerial spraying, and that illnesses such as fever and colds were nothing out of the ordinary."
Spraying ban unconstitutional
Banana plantation owners won a civil case that sought to declare the aerial spraying ban by the Davao City council unconstitutional.
In March 2007, the city council passed Ordinance 0309-07 entitled "An Ordinance Banning Aerial Spraying Practice in all Agricultural Entities in Davao City." The local law aimed to prohibit companies from spraying fungicides over bananas from airplanes in 1,800 hectares out of the total 5,000 hectares of banana plantations in the city.
But PBGEA, an association of 18 banana corporations, led by Davao Fruits Corp. and Lapanday Agricultural & Development Corp., filed a civil case in September 2007 at the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 17 of Davao City questioning the constitutionality of the ordinance.
The group argued that stopping the spraying could expose the banana plants to pest attacks that could drive their business to bankruptcy that would eventually result in loss of jobs.
On Sept. 22, 2007, Judge Renato Fuentes of the RTC Branch 17 of Davao City ruled against the banana growers, who promptly elevated the case to the 22nd Division of the Court of Appeals based in Cagayan de Oro City.
In January 2009, the appellate court declared the city ordinance unconstitutional. On Feb. 2, 2009 the Davao City government filed a motion for reconsideration. The appellate court has yet to rule on the petition. - GMANews.TV
Radio dzBB's Davao affiliate reported Thursday that Environment Secretary Jose “Lito" Atienza Jr. also ordered a study of the dangers of aerial spraying while the suspension is in effect.
Atienza said the suspension applies to Region 11, particularly in areas near residences.
Also, he ordered the creation of a buffer zone aerial spraying, to make sure traces of fungicide or pesticide would not get near homes.
In past months, residents, local Church groups and militants had voiced opposition to aerial spraying, citing its threat to residents' health.
Owners of banana plantations in Davao had succeeded in stopping the implementation of an ordinance of the Davao City Council banning aerial spraying and continued the practice since their court victory in January 2009.
On August 24, groups opposed to aerial spraying took their case to the Department of Health office in Manila. [See: Anti-aerial spraying advocates bring campaign to DOH]
Respiratory problems
A radio dzBB report on Monday said the Mamamayang Ayaw sa Aerial Spray (MAAS) made an appeal to Health Secretary Francisco Duque III to stop the practice, as it has caused skin and respiratory problems among residents of communities around banana plantations.
That same day, Mark Salazar of GMA’s QTV even quoted one of the protesters, Cecilia Moran (who has tuberculosis), as saying that aerial spraying practice has caused a host of diseases in communities.
Also on August 24, the National Task Force Against Aerial Spraying (NTFAAS) welcomed DENR's August 14 directive to look into the issue.
The group said that Atienza has instructed Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) director Julian Amador to coordinate with banana growers "to ensure temporary suspension of aerial spraying close to residential communities or, if not possible, provide adequate buffer zones to prevent drift of fungicides/pesticides."
For its part, the Filipino Banana Growers & Exporters Association (PBGEA) lauded Atienza's directive for stressing on "the conduct of a comprehensive study on the safe use, hazards, and protection measures pertaining to aerial spraying."
According to PBGEA, EMB's Amador had visited the communities around banana plantations in Davao recently and had been told by local officials that "none of the residents have suffered from ailments related to aerial spraying, and that illnesses such as fever and colds were nothing out of the ordinary."
Spraying ban unconstitutional
Banana plantation owners won a civil case that sought to declare the aerial spraying ban by the Davao City council unconstitutional.
In March 2007, the city council passed Ordinance 0309-07 entitled "An Ordinance Banning Aerial Spraying Practice in all Agricultural Entities in Davao City." The local law aimed to prohibit companies from spraying fungicides over bananas from airplanes in 1,800 hectares out of the total 5,000 hectares of banana plantations in the city.
But PBGEA, an association of 18 banana corporations, led by Davao Fruits Corp. and Lapanday Agricultural & Development Corp., filed a civil case in September 2007 at the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 17 of Davao City questioning the constitutionality of the ordinance.
The group argued that stopping the spraying could expose the banana plants to pest attacks that could drive their business to bankruptcy that would eventually result in loss of jobs.
On Sept. 22, 2007, Judge Renato Fuentes of the RTC Branch 17 of Davao City ruled against the banana growers, who promptly elevated the case to the 22nd Division of the Court of Appeals based in Cagayan de Oro City.
In January 2009, the appellate court declared the city ordinance unconstitutional. On Feb. 2, 2009 the Davao City government filed a motion for reconsideration. The appellate court has yet to rule on the petition. - GMANews.TV
