Thursday, April 24, 2008 Maas seeks support for anti-aerial spraying campaign By Lovely Ayn Boluhan Xavier University Intern
IN CELEBRATION of the World Earth Day, the Mamamayan Ayaw sa Aerial Spray (Maas) came all the way from Davao to Cagayan de Oro City and held a press conference concerning the banning of aerial spraying as method of pesticide application.
The conference capped off with the reading of the manifesto from Governor Douglas Cagas of Davao del Sur.
As stated in the manifesto, traces of pesticide were found in the blood and water samples collected from Barangay Guihing, Davao del Sur.
Cagas therefore requests for support to stop such method of pesticide application to protect the people and the environment of the province.
He also emphasized to stop the expansion of banana plantations in the same province since this has already taken a toll on the area's biological diversity, soil quality and even food security.
Banana plantations had already occupied a large chunk of land around Mt. Apo Natural Park, clearing what used to be forestlands making the surrounding areas prone to environmental calamities like landslides and floods.
Food security was also a concern since fertile lands for rice, corn, coconut and vegetable plantations were now filled with banana shrubs.
A resolution supporting Davao's legislation of banning aerial spraying was also issued by the Diocese of Malaybalay.
It was raised that if ever Davao City's appeal to ban aerial spraying was denied, the diocese feared that this might lead to a dispute of their 2001 provincial legislation of the same nature.
City Administrator Rolando Dariot of Malaybalay also came with the statement of support from the City Government condemning the practice of aerial spraying.
"The only choice we have is Mother Earth," says Dariot as he reads through the manifesto.
Maas spokesperson Dagohoy Magaway relates that their appeal is currently filed at the Court of Appeals and if ever it is denied, they will not end their fight, but instead bring it to the higher courts.
"Green Peace will intervene if ever the case reaches the Supreme Court," said Dagohoy.
