______________

For comments and suggestions:

Email us at feedback@insidemindanao.com

or send us a message thru our MESSAGE TO THE EDITOR portion on our homepage

______________

First Posted on Inside Mindanao: October 19, 2007

Call to end aerial spray on banana plantations
By Ronald Diez

DAVAO CITY—Aerial spray on banana plantations in barangay Sirib, in this city, brought forth skin disease to the residents.

Based on my observation, ever since the aerial spray on banana plantations in Sirib, many residents started to have white spots all over their bodies. If the white spot would be scratched, it would result to an open wound.

In an interview, Roesel Dapar, a resident of Sirib, called for the end of aerial spray on banana plantations in Sirib.

She said aerial spray destroys the fruit trees of the residents such as lanzones and caused skin complications or white spots on skins.

“If the aerial spray would not be stopped, the residents would be the only ones who would suffer,&rdquo she said.

In an interview with Ricky Gelicame, also a resident of Sirib, he said the aerial spray made on the banana plantations in Sirib “caused the skin disease&rdquo among the residents. Mr. Gelicame added, “The fruits of trees such as coconuts and lanzones decrease because the leaves of the trees have died because of this (aerial spray).&rdquo

Many of the residents in Sirib depend on banana plantation for their livelihood and daily needs.

Barangay Sirib now is different from the old days. Before, even if you would walk at high noon, you would barely be reached by the rays of the sun. There is less water in Sirib and the grasses have died. There are no more grasses that the cows, carabaos, and goats can eat.

In an interview with one resident of Sirib who requested not to be named, she said, “For me, the reason for this high temperature is due to the presence of banana plantations.”

She added, “Trees were cut and were replaced by banana plantations. There are no more trees that can protect people from the rays of the sun, and there are no more places where there are shades.”

Some residents of Sirib said they cut the big trees and replaced it with banana so that they could earn money monthly. Most of the residents of Sirib allowed big companies to plant banana on their land, in exchange of the monthly compensation from the companies.

With reports from Girly Sahidain and Jessamae Sauza

(Editors Note: On January 16, 2006, the City Council of Davao passed an ordinance banning aerial spraying as an agricultural practice. To date, the Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association is seeking relief in court.)

END

Click here for the Original Visayan Version