Groups call for ban on aerial spraying on banana plantations
MANILA, Philippines – Various civil society groups on Tuesday called on Congress to pass the long delayed bill banning aerial pesticide spraying in banana plantations nationwide. The groups, including Mamamayan Ayaw sa Aerial Spraying (MAAS), said that the controversial agricultural method brings more harm than good to local communities and the environment. “Beyond its supposed economic benefits, aerial spraying is a daily menace to our communities and to the environment,” MAAS President Dagohoy Magaway said.
Group lauds mining ban ordinance
THE Interface Development Interventions (Idis) lauded Wednesday the approval of the ordinance banning mining in Davao City. The environmental group said that the development suggests that the city-wide policy is “one step closer in making the world in general and Davao City in particular a better place to live for the future generations.” “Thus, we can proudly say, in Davao City, Life is Here!” the Idis said in its statement sent to Sun.Star Davao.
Drought affects Davao’s ‘rainforestation’ projects
DAVAO CITY—The prolonged dry spell has not only affected crop production but it has also affected “rainforestation” initiatives in the watershed, according to an environment group. “The heat is making it difficult for tree nurseries to thrive, requiring more efforts from our community partners to ensure their survival,” said Joy Enriquez, watershed protection campaigner of the Interface Development Interventions (IDIs). Enriquez, who represents the NGO sector in the Watershed Management Council, said the latter organization is currently doing a “riparian rainforestation” project in the Panigan-Tamugan watershed, Davao’s future source of drinking water.
CSOs call on the national Fertilizer and Pesticides Authority (FPA) agency to stop aerial spraying in the Philippines
DAVAO CITY- Ninety-five (95) local and international civil society organizations (CSOs) and institutions have petitioned the Fertilizer and Pesticides Authority (FPA) to ban aerial spraying in banana plantations in the Philippines. In a position paper drafted by the lead CSO, the Interface Development Interventions (IDIS) , the group highlighted the dangers of using aerial spraying as a method to apply fungicide because it contaminates nearby communities and water resources indiscriminately. “In the communities adjacent or inside banana plantations, incidents of animals and plants dying due to hazardous chemical exposure have been reported. This is because the chemicals used in aerial spraying, when released, are airborne and spread randomly, reaching areas which do not even have banana crops! These aerial drifts are also easily affected by wind speed, terrain plane size, wing span, nozzle orientation, nozzle type, droplet size and swath and spray volume.”
Civil Society Position against Aerial Spraying
2015 CSO Position Paper Against Aerial Spraying
Organic farming zones pushed
DAVAO CITY – On the occasion of the worldwide Earth Day celebration this April 22, 2015, organic farming advocates are renewing their call for the city government to establish the city’s organic zones as mandated by the Davao City Organic Agriculture Ordinance of 2010. “Organic farms increase the fertility of soils and mitigate the negative impacts of climate change. Establishing organic farming zones all around the city will ensure Davao’s food security and make the city climate resilient.”, said Go Organic Davao City (GoDC) member Joy Enriquez. Davao’s Organic Agriculture Management Council (OAMC) had initially identified Barangay Sibulan in Toril District as one of the ideal sites for an organic farming zone due to the high number of organic farming practitioners in the areas. The area is home to the Bagobo-Tagabawa tribe which has adopted organic agriculture as a predominant way of farming life.