KILUSANG Mambubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) through Anakpawis party-list group expressed opposition to aerial spraying Thursday.
Anakpawis spokesperson Pedro Arnado said KMP understands that there are farmers who support aerial spraying because they own cooperatives of banana plantations. He, however, said KMP has long opposed aerial spraying when this was used in Jacienda Luisita in Tarlac.
"Sukad pa katong naggamit ug aerial spray sa Jacienda Luisita, nga kapin 68 ka ektarya ug naay 10,000 ka maguuma, nag-oppose na mi ana. Dili mi ana musugot kay makadaot sa mga hayop. (When this was first used in Jacienda Luisita, which sprawls for 68 hectares and has 10,000 farmers, we've opposed that. We won't allow it because it destroys the livestock)" said Arnado at Aglipay Church at F. Torres St.
This developed during the gathering of KMP members in commemoration of the 23rd anniversary of the Mendiola massacre.
"Diri sa may Sto. Tomas, reklamo sa mga mag-uuma didto nga ang tambal ang gakaadto sa ilaha. Mamatay ang mga gulayon, mga hayop mawadan ug balahibo, mga baboy. (In Sto. Tomas, their complain is they also get hit by the fertilizer. Their plants die, the livestock they have such as pigs lose hair)" Arnado said.
"Sa pag-dili sa (KMP) sa aerial spray nasuko ang kining mga naay cooperatib nga sagingan. Mao nang suko sila sa (KMP) mga militante ug sa syudad sa Dabaw tungod gipasa niini ang ordinansa nga i-ban ang aerial spray. (As KMP opposed aerial spraying, farmers who are part of cooperatives in banana plantations were angered. They're angry at KMP, militants, and to the government of the city which passed an ordinance banning aerial spray)" Arnado said.
Arnado said KMP will continue opposing aerial spraying and support the local government in pursuing the ban on aerial spray.
"Apil ni sa among ginaduso nga kung unsang para sa mga maguuma mao untay ihatag sa ilaha. Ang kining ginabuhat sa multi-national corporations o 'financer' sa mga cooperatibs pareho ra gihapon sanguna, nga dili gihapon sakto kung unsa ang para sa maguuma. (This is part of what we're fighting for that what should be given to the farmers should be given. What the multi-national corporations or 'financer' of cooperatives is still the same as what they've done before that farmers do not get what is for them)," Arnado said.
He added that the situation where aerial spraying is used to lower labor cost continues and the salary is not enough to what the labor is worth.
"Nobody complains because they are under watch. If they're removed from their job where will they go, what other job is there?" he said. (JCZ)