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Monday, October 29, 2007
Banana growers seek CA to stop Davao’s aerial spray ban
By Rhodamae M. Hernandez
DAVAO CITY -- After losing the battle in a local court, the Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA) is now seeking the Court of Appeals to stop Davao City’s ban on aerial spraying in agricultural plantations.
The banana growers in going to the Court of Appeals this time are not just contesting the constitutionality of the ordinance but the effect of the ordinance on their plantations as a result of the ordinance.
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The ban on aerial spraying makes their plantations under the threat of the black sigatoka disease, a banana plantation disease.
The motion, which was submitted at the Court of Appeals last October 18, says that "considering the extreme contagious nature of Black Sigatoka disease, by the time that the Honorable Court resolves the instant appeal on the merits, and by the time the appellants are able to mount even a minimal capacity to spray manually, the entire banana plantation would have already been devastated by the Black Sigatoka disease."
In its motion filed with the CA, too, PBGEA said they are raising their concern to the CA after they got "most unfair and unjust treatment" from the lower court.
Lia Jasmin Esquillo, executive director of Interface Development Interventions (Idis) and one of the groups staunchly pushing for the aerial spraying ban said the move made by the PBGEA was expected.
"We expected for PBGEA to fight it out as this is part of their continuing resistance to accept the will of the people, the City Government and the court. This move is all anchored in their inability to accept the truth," she said.
"The tone of their appeal is nagpapaawa but we all know that they are just putting up this image as the real nakakaawa are the people, who for so many years, have been exposed to the dangers of their chemicals," she added.
Esquillo said they are confident that the Court of Appeals will uphold the decision of the lower court.
"The people have already spoken. The City Government of Davao has already made a decision as the lower court did. We are confident that the Court of Appeals will uphold the decision of the court and the will of people. And one piece of advice for PBGEA: Give up," Esquillo said.(Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Manila. (October 29, 2007 issue)
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