Aerial spraying of pesticides stopped

The Environment and Natural Resources Department has ordered the suspension of aerial spraying of pesticides and fungicides in banana plantations in Region 11, which comprises the three Davao provinces and Compostela Valley.

Environment Secretary Jose “Lito” Atienza Jr. said on radio he also ordered the creation of a buffer zone on aerial spraying to make sure traces of fungicide or pesticide are kept away from residential areas.

Atienza issued the suspension order after residents, local church groups and militants had voiced opposition to aerial spraying, citing its threat to residents’ health.

The Davao City council in March 2007 adopted an ordinance banning aerial spraying but plantation owners last January won a court order stopping the ban. The local ordinance aimed to prohibit companies from spraying fungicides over bananas from airplanes in 1,800 hectares out of the total 5,000 hectares of banana plantations in the city.

Plantation owners led by the Lorenzo family’s Lapanday Agricultural and Development Corp. argued that stopping the spraying could expose the banana plants to pest attacks that could drive their business to bankruptcy and eventually result in loss of jobs. –Manila Standard Today