A government expert backs aerial pesticide spraying

A government expert defended the aerial spraying of pesticides in banana plantations, saying it was the only viable means for the industry to thrive.

“The lifeline for many of the banana companies rest on eradicating the most common problem in banana production, which is the fungal Sigatoka disease and pesticides use is but indispensable,” Dario Sabularce, deputy executive director of the Fertilizer and Pesticides Authority (FPA) under the Department of Agriculture (DA) said.

In an interview with the Philippine Daily Inquirer (parent company of INQUIRER.net) on the sidelines of a biotechnology workshop at the University of the Philippines-Mindanao here, Sabularse said aerial spraying was the only viable way to rid banana plantations of pests since these cover huge tracts of land.

Sabularse said aerial spraying has always been an “approved procedure” and that the pesticides used were not dangerous to humans or to the environment. He dared critics to prove otherwise.

“If there is a concern, why don’t you show us your studies? (The FPA) is the proper agency that should look into this matter,” he said.

Sabularse added: “These are hard times and if we don’t allow aerial spraying, we are at risk of losing the market to neighboring countries like Malaysia and Indonesia, which are also into banana production.”

Sabularse's statement in favor of aerial spraying came after the Court of Appeals decided in favour of trashing a city ordinance that banned the practice.

The city council had banned aerial spraying after studies revealed that the practice had been endangering the health of residents living near banana plantations here.

The study was conducted by both government and non-government health organizations in 2006.

The ban on aerial spraying in banana plantations here was the second of its kind in Mindanao, after Bukidnon province.

The Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA), a grouping of banana companies here, had asked the CA in January to rule against the ban, enraging residents.
"It was as if heaven fell on us,” said Rosita Bacalso, a member of the Davao-based Mamamayan Ayaw sa Aerial Spraying (MAAS).

“The CA only proved that they take good care of the welfare of the rich and powerful, never mind us poor," Bacalso said.

Sister Esperanza Magana of the Association of Women Religious under the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro called the court's decision “a work of evil.”

"Anything that lessens the quality of life, anything that curtails life is evil. In that context we are against aerial spraying," Magana said as soon as the Court of Appeals handed down the decision.

Erminstan Pimentel, vice-president for administration of the Xavier University in Cagayan, said he could not understand how the Court of Appeals found the ordinance banning aerial spraying as unconstitutional.

"Aerial spraying goes against sustainable development. One cannot help but question the wisdom of the justices in favoring its continued use," he said.

Wendell Avisado, Davao City administrator, said the fight was not over yet because the city government filed an appeal against the Court of Appeals ruling.