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Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Banana growers want gradual aerial spray phase-out
By Carlo P. Mallo and Grace L. Plata
DAVAO CITY -- The phase-out period before the total ban of aerial spraying must be less than a year, according to the Davao Medical Society (DMS).
But the Philippine Banana Growers and Exporters Association Inc. (PBGEA) is asking for 25 years, a proposal that does not sit well with four Davao City councilors.
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A copy of the PBGEA's reaction to the so-called "Jacinto Report" said it needs a 25-year phase-out period to enable it to cope with the capital expenses required for converting from aerial to boom spray.
Major players of the city's banana industry have expressed their concerns over the rumored six-month phase-out period that is said to be popular among city councilors who are expected to tackle the issue Tuesday.
The group said it is next to impossible to shift from aerial to boom spraying within that period of time.
However, they said they are keeping their options open as to how they would deal with the proposed aerial spray ban.
A major sentiment among the industry's players is that much has been done and said, and numerous consultations have been undertaken; most of the results favor their side.
But they still express concern on the outcome of the issue.
The industry's players remain hopeful that the councilors would be looking at the bigger picture.
The proposed ban would not only be affecting plantations in the city as the PBGEA is expecting that the effects would spill over to other areas in the region. It would also affect the entirety of the banana industry.
The PBGEA further assert that the ban will cause a decrease in the hectarage of plantations because this will require the construction of additional roads to accommodate the trucks where the boom will be mounted.
The decrease in hectarage, the PBGEA said, will result to less work force as manpower in plantations is directly proportional to land area planted.
According to the PBGEA the imposition of the ban would also be detrimental to the industry, as it would send out a wrong signal to the foreign market.
"The foreign market would think that there is something wrong with our banana production here," a top executive of a banana firm, who asked not to be named, said.
PBGEA asserts that the banana industry is one of the highly regulated industries even before the issue of aerial spraying came about.
The care and protection of the environment is one of their primary concerns, as the banana industry benefits and profits from the environment.
According to the "Jacinto Report" the banana industry is one of the leading contributors in the revenue collection of the city.
In Davao City alone, the industry employs an average of about 8,000 workers for the operations of the various banana plantations in the city.
Incidentally, the reaction was quiet about the 30-meter buffer zone, a requirement in plantation environmental clearance certificates, which all plantations in the city have been violating.
In the Jacinto Report, it was stated that the buffer zone during the phase-out period should be 50 meters, 20 meters more than ECC requirements.
"That's a farce," was Councilor Nenen R. Orcullo's reply when asked for a reaction over a phone interview Monday afternoon.
"I will not agree to that. The two to six months period after the approval of the ordinance is enough time for them to make the roads for the boom spray," she said.
Councilor Angela Librado Trinidad said she does not think that such proposal is acceptable in the light of the increasing clamor for a healthy and safe environment not only in Davao but in the entire globe.
"It is too lengthy and will render the banning useless," said City Council Committee on Natural Resources Chair Leonardo R. Avila III. "There is no way that will be considered."
Councilor Mabel Sunga-Acosta echoed Avila's sentiment, saying 25 years is too long.
"I find the five-year phase-out plan in the original version of the ordinance as too long a period already. Now they propose 25 years? That's way too much and too long. Health and environment concerns are urgent and deserve top priority. We owe it to the Dabawenyos now and the generations to come," Acosta said.
On the side of medical practitioners, the DMS-Task Force Aerial Spraying on Pesticides head Dr. Jean Suzanne Lindo said that if the City Council decides in favor of the banning, the said policy must take effect immediately to give the affected residents the clean space they have long been waiting for.
"If you stop the exposure sooner, it would be a lot better. A short phase-out period must be given to the plantations because they can actually make the needed adjustments immediately and they have the capacity to do it," Lindo said.
Lindo said the longer time for the phase-out will mean prolonging the agony of the people being exposed to spray drift.
"Now here's a policy, which is an answer to their long demand and it is just modest for the City Council to give it all out to the clamor of the people," Lindo said.
Gico Dayanghirang, a businessman who worked for a banana company in the past, agrees with Lindo. He said a one year phase-put period is even being generous to these companies.
Gico, who is a cousin of Councilor Danilo Dayanghirang, one of last year's Kalabasa Awardees for allegedly employing delaying tactics in the aerial spray debate, added that these companies can set up the needed changes in their system within six months or less.
DMS also recently issued a statement of support to the banning signed by 179 medical professionals. The said document has been submitted to Avila's office.
In a separate interview last week, Avila said there is no reason for deviate from their present proposal for banning, adding that he is positive and confident his colleagues feel the same.
Avila's committee is set to submit the final report for the deliberation of the council Tuesday. (Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Baguio. (January 16, 2007 issue)
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