Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Davao: Banana group sees doom with spray ban (9:15 p.m.)
By Carlo P. Mallo
DAVAO--Banana growers and exporters warned Tuesday that the Davao City ban on aerial spraying of pesticide would have a backlash on the local economy.
The court recently junked the petition of the Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA) to declare the ban as unconstitutional.
In an interview with Sun.Star Tuesday, PBGEA president Stephen Antig said substantial amounts of money would be lost due to the ban. "We have yet to establish the exact amount but I am sure it will be very substantial," Antig said.
Antig said that while they plan to appeal the decision, they do not intend to defy the ban.
Antig said that since Sunday, even before the court decision was made known to the public, aerial spray planes have already been grounded. The temporary injunction on the aerial spray ban ordinance issued by Judge Renato Fuentes expired last Sunday, a day after he ruled on the constitutionality of the ban. (Sun.star Davao) |
