THE Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA) welcomes the pronouncement of environment and natural resources secretary, Regina Paz “Gina” Lopez that banning of aerial spraying will only be implemented once the method is proved harmful based on scientific evidences.
Stephen Antig, PBGEA executive director told reporters Tuesday during the Davao Business Forum at the Dermpath, SM City-Davao that they submitted a letter to Lopez last week requesting for an audience to comprehensively discuss the matter.
“We are requesting for an audience to be able to present to her what, how, and why we are doing aerial spraying,” he said.
Antig said that if the secretary agreed, the meeting will be set in Davao City so the banana exporters can accompany her to the plantations where they conduct the spraying and meet the community residences.
The employees themselves for Lopez will personally ask the residents if they really are adversely affected by spraying, he added.
At present, Lopez has yet to respond to PBGEA’s request.
Antig challenged the people behind the movement opposing aerial spraying to present the names of people affected or who died because of this agricultural method.
The PBGEA director said no names and concrete evidences were presented to them since the rise of the issue.
When asked about the proposal of having a third party to conduct a study or a risk assessment of aerial spraying, Antig responded that the involved parties has yet to decide on who will do the study.
Antig said that what they need is group who is not associated with pro and anti-agenda of aerial spraying.
“Instead of pursuing issues like aerial spraying when it has been resolved several years back, the government should pay more attention to the insurgency problem because it is driving the present and prospective investors away from Mindanao,” Antig said.
Antig said that the banana industry, which was already here in the island for over 50 years, has been contributing largely on the Philippine economy in terms of revenues and job generation.