Church backs banana aerial spraying

MANILA, Philippines – Banana growers in Davao have gained the support of the Church in their appeal to the government not to ban aerial spraying for banana plants in the region.

In a signed pastoral statement, Archbishop Francisco R. Capalla of Davao and Bishops Wilfredo D. Manlapaz of Tagum, Patricio H. Alo of Mati and Guillermo V. Afable of Digos, along with Auxiliary Bishop George B. Rimando of Davao, agreed with the banana growers that there is no sufficient data to warrant a total ban on aerial spraying of fungicide on banana plantations.

The statement said the Church officials invited all groups concerned with the issue of aerial spraying of fungicide in banana plantations to get a clearer picture of the issue and arrive at a consensus.

The bishops, however, lamented the passionate debates about the matter that did not help clarify but instead, muddle the issue.

“We deplore the distortion of the issue by ideological and vested interest groups,” the bishops wrote.

“We urge all contending parties to sit down together to resolve the issues through as truthful and mutually respectful dialogue for the sake of the common good,” the bishops wrote.

Known popularly as Daditama, the four ecclesiastical territories have millions of members, many of whom are engaged in the banana trade, from cultivation to harvesting to processing and export.

The prelates said they heard the views of the Mamamayang Ayaw sa Aerial Spray (MAAS)/Interface Development Interventions Inc. (IDIS), the Philippine Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA), the Department of Health (DoH), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Fertilizer and Pesticides Authority (FPA).

During their meeting, the prelates said they discussed the matter anew and decided to issue a pastoral statement and clarify the position of the Daditama Catholic clergy on the issue.

“Based on the information and clarifications gathered during the two quarterly meetings, we believe that there are no sufficient data to warrant a total ban on aerial spraying,” the bishops said.

However, they sought a more responsible monitoring of the application of fungicides.

“To avoid future harmful effects in the use of fungicides, safe measures in the regulated use of fungicides should be strictly implemented with corresponding sanctions by collective efforts of national agencies, local government units (LGUs) and local non-government organizations (NGOs),” they suggested.

“We recommend that the multipartite monitoring team established by the government agencies to be more active in monitoring the operations of banana plantations do a more exhaustive study and scientific research on the effects of aerial spraying in their respective areas of responsibilities,” the bishops said.

“We recommend to everyone concerned to seriously consider the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) recommendation regarding the shift to organic farming as a safer agricultural practice,” they added.–Marianne V. Go (The Philippine Star)