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Saturday, July 01, 2006
Exec told to choose: Livestock or people?
By Jeffrey M. Tupas
ENVIRONMENTALISTS calling for a ban on aerial spraying are still nipping at City Councilor Arnulfo Cabling's heels, this time castigating him for insinuating that "cattle and poultry are more important than people."
The environmentalists were quick to chide Cabling for his answer when asked why a ban on aerial spray could not be imposed in Davao City just as fast as it was done in Bukidnon.
Cabling, former chair of the City Council committee on the environment, was quoted by media as saying, "Bukidnon is a different case. They have poultry and cattle there."
For Panaghoy sa Kinaiyahan -- an alliance of environmental groups -- Cabling's statements show the councilor's bias toward big businesses like Bukidnon's multi-million ranches and poultry industry and Davao's banana plantations, something that could perhaps explain why the proposed ordinance has been dragging for two years already.
"We view his statement as something reflective of his stand in the battle to ban or not to ban aerial spraying in Davao City. Does councilor Cabling really consider chicken and cows more important than people?" Rain Baco, Panaghoy coordinantor said.
"Is he not aware that there are people living inside plantation areas and are clearly bathing in poison every time an aerial spray is conducted? Panaghoy thinks that Cabling should be reminded that he is a public official and that human rights is above all else more important that anything," Baco added.
In 2001, the provincial board of Bukidnon passed the ordinance banning aerial spraying in banana plantations and other agricultural plantations in the province.
While Cabling focused too much on the provision that cited the protection needed for animals, he missed the entire line in the Bukidnon ordinance which says "unstable wind condition may cause the aerial spray application of these chemical very dangerous to people and animals and to other crops, knowing the potency of chemical used."
The ordinance also says: "These farms (plantations) lay adjacent to each other and in addition to these are poultries, piggeries, cattle ranches and other agri-based businesses, and it should also be noted that residential areas abut these farm boundaries."
Earlier, Cabling was challenged by residents in Davao's third district affected by aerial spraying to live with them and sniff the poison sprinkled on them after the councilor asked them to wait for six more months before the council can decide on the proposed ordinance.
Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy even joined the fray and castigated Cabling for what the preacher described as irresponsible statements. Quiboloy said that irresponsible remarks from someone elected by people like Cabling only bolster suspicion that "he is indeed the spokesperson of the plantations".
Mayor Rodrigo Duterte also recently said that he is personally against aerial spraying and stressed that it only demands logic and common sense to know the effect of aerial spraying to people's health and the environment.
The groups are now more hopeful with the removal of Cabling from the environment committee and with the installation of City Councilor Leonardo R. Avila III as its new chair.
(July 1, 2006 issue)
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