Bishop laments govt’s inaction against aerial spray

CHAIRMAN of National Secretariat for Social Action (NASSA) of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines and Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo lamented the government’s slow response to their appeal to ban aerial spraying of pesticides on banana plantations.

In a radio interview last Sunday, Pabillo said President Gloria Macacapagal-Arroyo has yet to respond to their (bishops) appeal to permanently ban the practice of aerial spraying of pesticides.

Various studies have proven the dangers of pesticides on health and the environment. The Department of Health (DOH) in a study it has commissioned a few years ago also pointed out the hazardous effects of pesticides to human health.

But despite the outcome of DOH study on the hazardous effects of pesticides on the health of the people, the president still has not ordered a halt on the practice, Pabillo said.

He, however, acknowledged that some Church leaders had already met and dialogued with government officials representing the president. But the outcome of that dialogue still remains to be seen, he said.

Metro Manila bishops led by Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales had earlier written an open letter to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo asking her to ban the practice of aerial spraying, saying the practice “infringes upon human health and dignity.”

In the letter, the bishops stressed that life is more important than “economic gains.”

Pabillo in a separate statement earlier released by NASSA office also condemned the practice, saying “aerial spraying violates a person’s right to life and safe environment.”

He said that the Church is concerned of “the fact that pesticide poisoning is disproportionately borne by low-income, minority communities who are oftentimes incapable of seeking proper medical attention.”

Banana plantation owners in Mindanao, also known as Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA) apply aerial spraying of pesticides to kill fungus on banana leaves. They argued that to discontinue the practice will result to great economic loss for the country.

But residents around plantations complained of various illnesses, ranging from respiratory ailments, blindness, allergies, high blood pressure, goiter and various forms of cancer, which they said were caused by the toxic pesticides sprayed by airplanes.