9/06/2009
Deo Palma
LUMAD farmers from the Klata tribe of Manobo and Leizel Bacalso from Barangay Sirib, Kalinan, Davao City arrived in Manila this week and narrated their experiences about the devastating effect of aerial spraying in their community. Although different sectors of the society and responsible media are already making considerable noise about farmers’ lives pitted against profit, this is the first time that the affected farmers and firsthand victims of the aerial spray have come to Manila to voice out their grievances. This is what they have to say: People are dying in Mindanao from the so-called rain of death.
Aerial spraying applies pesticides to agricultural crops using aircraft. It showers down poison indiscriminately from sky hitting not only the target pets but also anything human or non-human within range. Studies have shown that the toxic drift reaches 3-2 kilometers on the average and due to its effect on people’s health, environment and livelihood, there is a strong clamor to ban aerial spraying in the Philippines. It is documented that Philippines is second to Ecuador in Cavendish banana production producing 2.3 million metric tons annually, with a value of US$ 40M.
Twenty-one year old Liezel shared that the chemicals go to the water that they are cooking and washing the food that food that they eat. Their livestock – goats, cows, and pigs – that ate the grass indirectly contaminated by the chemical became weak and eventually died. The poison caused for sever stomach pain and headaches.
"We have a very poor harvest", said Liezel, "and our tree-bearing fruits like lanzones, marang and durian are barren. Even our Kadayawan Festival is not happy because we don’t have much harvest."
She said that aerial spraying in their area started since the early 70s. When asked why her parents did not complain long before, she said that they were afraid of the companies practicing aerial spraying. Anyone who dares speak against them are being laid off from their work, including their relatives and so they keep quite watching their animals, friends and family members gradually dying due to the toxic chemicals. Alfredo Calud recounted that two of his nephews died because they were always swimming in the river heavily contaminated with the pesticides. He noticed white spots in some parts of their bodies which later spread and left them in agony, vomiting blood. Noel Awi also recalled how his brother died, which he strongly suspected was due to the poisonous spray. The Lumads are demanding their right: Stop the spraying!"
"I remember the man who was in charge of waving flags where the airplane would spray the deadly chemicals. He has now lost his eyesight," Liezel said.
In 2006 a toxicologist expert from the Department of Health, Dr. Lyn Panganiban, conducted a study in Sition Camocaan, Hagonoy, Davao Del Sur. Ramdom sampling and tests affirmed that there is a strong evidence from the blood samples of the residents that the land and the air is contaminated with pesticides. On May 16, 2009, the Department of Health (DOH) in Region 7 issued a stern warning to halt the practice of aerial spraying following the results of their 2006 study.
The National Task Force Against Aerial Spray stated that the plantation companies under the umbrella of the Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBCEA) are vigorously opposing a ban on aerial spray despite clear, viable and less dangerous alternative to the practice because converting ground spraying would entail more cost to their operations.
On February 7, the City of Davao issued an ordinance to ban the aerial spray and applied it on March 2007. The Regional trial Court supported the banning of the spraying of deadly chemicals using aircraft. But the PBGEA challenged the decision of the RTC to the Court of Appeals based in Cagayan De Oro City. They said that the ordinance is oppressive and confiscatory and it violates equal protection of law. The Court of Appeals based in Cagayan De Oro City, by a vote of 4 to 1, upheld the contention of the planters that the ordinance was unconstitutional.
The Davao City ordinance has been questioned in courts by plantation companies because the ordinance supposedly violates the company’s right to property. Yet this is a conflict between the right to property and the right to life.
It was on August 5, 2007 when members of the Ang Katipunan ng mga Samahang Maharlika (Ang KaSaMa) facilitated a meeting between the farmers and staunched environmentalist activist Odette Alcantara. Ms. Alcantara immediately rallied members’ organizations of the Earth Day Network to support the cause of the Mindanao Farmers.
The farmers were interviewed by Bernie Lopez and got the chance to join a media forum on August 6 after which several concerned journalists published their grievances in the Philippine Daily Enquirer.
Cecelia Moran, President of the Mamayang Ayaw sa Aerial Spray (MAAS) said that they are seeking the help and support of the Department of Environment and Natural resources (DENR), Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) to ban aerial spraying because it kills not only in Mindanao but throughout Philippines.
"We will not go home until justice is awake," Ms. Moran said. The MAAS called on President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to release an Executive Order to :Stop the Rain of Death" since our Constitution on Section 16 of Article II says "The State shall protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature." In tandem with it is Section 15, which says: "The State shall protect the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them."
On August 7, the farmers got the support of environmental lawyer Antonio Oposa, A Ramon Magsaysay Awardee from the Union of Lawyers for the Environment. Following this, Ramon Flores interviewed them on Radyo ng Bayan during his program ‘Go Green Bayan.’ The program concluded with the farmers’ strong sentiment that the law ought to be passed banning aerial spraying. In the Congress, there are pending bills authored by Senator Miguel Zubiri and Representative Rupuz Rondriguez to stop aerial spraying in the country.
The farmers said that out of more than 46,000 hectares of banana plantations, only 8,800 hectares are using aerial spray. In fact in response to public clamor, the provincial government of Bukidnon banned aerial spraying way back in 2001. The province of North Cotabato also banned the practice in 2004. In spite of the provincial bans, the Cavendish banana plantations exist and thrive in Bukidnon and North Cotabato, roving that plantations can flourish using alternatives to aerial spraying.
Aerial spraying applies pesticides to agricultural crops using aircraft. It showers down poison indiscriminately from sky hitting not only the target pets but also anything human or non-human within range. Studies have shown that the toxic drift reaches 3-2 kilometers on the average and due to its effect on people’s health, environment and livelihood, there is a strong clamor to ban aerial spraying in the Philippines. It is documented that Philippines is second to Ecuador in Cavendish banana production producing 2.3 million metric tons annually, with a value of US$ 40M.
Twenty-one year old Liezel shared that the chemicals go to the water that they are cooking and washing the food that food that they eat. Their livestock – goats, cows, and pigs – that ate the grass indirectly contaminated by the chemical became weak and eventually died. The poison caused for sever stomach pain and headaches.
"We have a very poor harvest", said Liezel, "and our tree-bearing fruits like lanzones, marang and durian are barren. Even our Kadayawan Festival is not happy because we don’t have much harvest."
She said that aerial spraying in their area started since the early 70s. When asked why her parents did not complain long before, she said that they were afraid of the companies practicing aerial spraying. Anyone who dares speak against them are being laid off from their work, including their relatives and so they keep quite watching their animals, friends and family members gradually dying due to the toxic chemicals. Alfredo Calud recounted that two of his nephews died because they were always swimming in the river heavily contaminated with the pesticides. He noticed white spots in some parts of their bodies which later spread and left them in agony, vomiting blood. Noel Awi also recalled how his brother died, which he strongly suspected was due to the poisonous spray. The Lumads are demanding their right: Stop the spraying!"
"I remember the man who was in charge of waving flags where the airplane would spray the deadly chemicals. He has now lost his eyesight," Liezel said.
In 2006 a toxicologist expert from the Department of Health, Dr. Lyn Panganiban, conducted a study in Sition Camocaan, Hagonoy, Davao Del Sur. Ramdom sampling and tests affirmed that there is a strong evidence from the blood samples of the residents that the land and the air is contaminated with pesticides. On May 16, 2009, the Department of Health (DOH) in Region 7 issued a stern warning to halt the practice of aerial spraying following the results of their 2006 study.
The National Task Force Against Aerial Spray stated that the plantation companies under the umbrella of the Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBCEA) are vigorously opposing a ban on aerial spray despite clear, viable and less dangerous alternative to the practice because converting ground spraying would entail more cost to their operations.
On February 7, the City of Davao issued an ordinance to ban the aerial spray and applied it on March 2007. The Regional trial Court supported the banning of the spraying of deadly chemicals using aircraft. But the PBGEA challenged the decision of the RTC to the Court of Appeals based in Cagayan De Oro City. They said that the ordinance is oppressive and confiscatory and it violates equal protection of law. The Court of Appeals based in Cagayan De Oro City, by a vote of 4 to 1, upheld the contention of the planters that the ordinance was unconstitutional.
The Davao City ordinance has been questioned in courts by plantation companies because the ordinance supposedly violates the company’s right to property. Yet this is a conflict between the right to property and the right to life.
It was on August 5, 2007 when members of the Ang Katipunan ng mga Samahang Maharlika (Ang KaSaMa) facilitated a meeting between the farmers and staunched environmentalist activist Odette Alcantara. Ms. Alcantara immediately rallied members’ organizations of the Earth Day Network to support the cause of the Mindanao Farmers.
The farmers were interviewed by Bernie Lopez and got the chance to join a media forum on August 6 after which several concerned journalists published their grievances in the Philippine Daily Enquirer.
Cecelia Moran, President of the Mamayang Ayaw sa Aerial Spray (MAAS) said that they are seeking the help and support of the Department of Environment and Natural resources (DENR), Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) to ban aerial spraying because it kills not only in Mindanao but throughout Philippines.
"We will not go home until justice is awake," Ms. Moran said. The MAAS called on President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to release an Executive Order to :Stop the Rain of Death" since our Constitution on Section 16 of Article II says "The State shall protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature." In tandem with it is Section 15, which says: "The State shall protect the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them."
On August 7, the farmers got the support of environmental lawyer Antonio Oposa, A Ramon Magsaysay Awardee from the Union of Lawyers for the Environment. Following this, Ramon Flores interviewed them on Radyo ng Bayan during his program ‘Go Green Bayan.’ The program concluded with the farmers’ strong sentiment that the law ought to be passed banning aerial spraying. In the Congress, there are pending bills authored by Senator Miguel Zubiri and Representative Rupuz Rondriguez to stop aerial spraying in the country.
The farmers said that out of more than 46,000 hectares of banana plantations, only 8,800 hectares are using aerial spray. In fact in response to public clamor, the provincial government of Bukidnon banned aerial spraying way back in 2001. The province of North Cotabato also banned the practice in 2004. In spite of the provincial bans, the Cavendish banana plantations exist and thrive in Bukidnon and North Cotabato, roving that plantations can flourish using alternatives to aerial spraying.
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