|
Mindanao farmers welcome CHR findings on aerial spraying |
|
|
|
|
Mindanao Daily Mirror
|
|
Saturday, 06 February 2010 |
DAVAO CITY – Members of the Mamamayan Ayaw sa Aerial Spraying (MAAS) welcomed the recent findings of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on the aerial spraying issue.
“Tungod niini, hinaut mapalihok na si Presidente Arroyo nga muhimo nag Executive Order (EO) banning aerial spray (I hope that this will finally spur the President to issue the EO banning aerial spray),” said Liezl Bacaslo, a MAAS member from Calinan District who was part of the group that went to Manila to lobby for the ban.
The CHR advisory entitled “Aerial Spraying and the Right to Health and Environmental Protection” which was issued January 22 this year, called on President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to issue an EO “mandating the shelving of the practice of aerial spraying of pesticide in the country, urgently ordering a time-bound multidisciplinary, comprehensive, independent and integrated study on the matter by a competent team of experts for the purpose”.
The advisory which was signed by its chairperson Leila De Lima and four other commissioners, is the latest in the series of recommendations calling for the implementation of a nationwide ban on aerial spray banning as an agricultural practice.
On November 9, 2009 , Secretary Eduardo Ermita had agreed in a dialogue with Catholic bishops in Malacañang that aerial spraying is a public heath hazard and even instructed the Department of Health (DOH) to endorse its resolution banning aerial spraying to the Office of the President.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) confirmed during the meeting that they will support and adopt DOH’s recommendations within the context of their powers and duties.
According to Bacalso, the EO is long overdue and should be issued immediately.
“Dugay na namong gipaabot nga ihatag ang EO para maundang ang aerial spray. Naa na mi sa Manila last year para maistoryahan si Presidente Arroyo. Sa dihang andam na ang tanan niadtong December 17, kalit lang gi-cancel kini. Naguol ug nasuko mi ato kay basta-basta lang mi gi-balewala,” (We have waited for so long for the EO so that aerial spraying will stop. We were already in Manila last year to dialogue with President Arroyo. But when we were already prepared to meet her on December 17, Malacañang just cancelled it. We were dismayed and angry why they took us for granted)” Bacalso said.
Bacalso was reacting to statements made by Deputy Presidential Spokesman Gary Olivar who said that the President would act on the matter soon. She further said that the move only showed how the Arroyo government is beholden to corporate interests at the expense of the poor.
The issue of banning aerial spraying gained prominence this year as members of the Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA) stepped up its efforts to block MAAS' campaign against aerial spraying.
Last January 26, 2010, a forum on Aerial Spraying was conducted under the auspices of the University of the Philippines-Mindanao. The forum which was attended by a predominantly pro-aerial spraying crowd, brought in a British expert , Dr. Andrew Hewitt, to discuss the technical aspects of aerial spraying. He maintained that the method is safer than using the boom spray method.
The expert made use of models to show the feasibility of aerial spraying application.
MAAS members however, refuted Hewitt's claims. Barangay Kagawad Crispin Alcomendras, a MAAS member from Brgy Wangan in Calinan district dismissed the models because this is not applicable to the local context.
“Dili nila ma kumpara ang ilang model sa actual condition dire” (They cannot compare their model to the actual condition here), he said pointing out that overseas, the usual hectarage is at 1000 hectares. Here in Mindanao, he said, the average area is 10 hectares.
“Didto sa ila plantasyon, wala may mga balay. Diri sa ato, naa may mga balay. Muingon ba diay ang hangin nga muundang ko kung mulupad ang eroplano”, (There are no houses in their plantations. In our area, there are houses. Will the air said that it will stop if the spray planes start flying?) he said.
He also debunked statements made during the forum that the aerial spray of pesticides only lasts 10 minutes: “Dili na mao. Sa among kasinatian muabot pa og tulo (3) ka oras kay mubalik balik man ang eroplano aron pati kadtong mga sagingan duol sa buffer zone ma-apil ug aerial spray,” (That is not true. In our experience, it will even reach upto three hours because the spray plane goes back and forth to ensure that the bananas near the buffer zone will be sprayed.)
Asserting their rights not to be sprayed and not to be exposed from poison, the MAAS movement is now gearing up for a renewed campaign for 2010.
|
