Wednesday, September 26, 2007 Pro-ban to PBGEA: Show corporate responsibility By Rhodamae M. Hernandez
THE group strongly supporting the aerial spray ban challenged the Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA) to accept the court ruling and show some of its much-touted social responsibility for the communities and the environment.
"Please do the people of Davao a favor. Give up this fight and for once show that a small part of you is willing to practice your corporate social responsibility. Respecting the City Government who passed the ordinance and the lower court who ruled against your case is your only chance to show that there's another part of you other than being greedy and arrogant," Jun Alcomendras, a councilor of Barangay Wangan in Calinan District and member of the Mamamayan Ayaw sa Aerial Spraying (Maas) said.
Alcomendras said the decision of Judge Renato Fuentes of the Regional Trial Court Branch 17 articulated well the failure of the banana plantations to prove their case.
He said the decision should serve as a wake-up call for PBGEA to admit that aerial spraying as a chemical application practice poses danger to the environment and the health of the people.
"Enough of all these denials. This is the best time to admit that aerial spraying is hazardous and therefore must be banned," Alcomendras said.
Lia Jasmin Esquillo, executive director of the non-government organization Interface Development, cited the resolve of the people who will never back off from the fight.
"The people who have been exposed to aerial spraying all these years are all the more unbending this time," Esquillo said.
Esquillo said that community mechanisms are now in place to monitor possible violations of banana plantations with the ban in place.
Alcomendras said they will be closely watching the banana plantations and will immediately report to the authorities any company plane that sprays pesticides on their bananas.
"All members of Maas are as ready as before, we will not hesitate to report any violations to the City Government," Alcomendras said.
The City Legal Office has already said that the City Government will file appropriate charges against the plantations if they will violate the ordinance. (With press release)
