1. End Poison
Rain
Ban Aerial Spraying in the Philippines!

2. What is aerial spraying?
 form of pesticide application that uses a small
airplane or helicopter
 used by the banana plantations in Mindanao
since 1970s
 targets sigatoka, a fungus that attacks the
leaves of banana plants and causes premature
aging of fruits
 mixture sprayed usually composed of pesticide,
water, the oil or sticker and emulsifier
 in the Philippines, only fungicides are allowed
by FPA to be sprayed aerially

3.  The chemicals
sprayed is inherently
poison
 Pesticides are
designed to kill
 Even if registered by
the Fertilizer and
Pesticide Authority,
still have
ill effects on non-target
organisms
 All banned pesticides
were once allowed for
use
Why is there a need to ban aerial
spraying?

4. Pesticide Poisoning Victims in IndiaPesticide Poisoning Victims in India

5. Pesticide Poisoning Victims in MindanaoPesticide Poisoning Victims in Mindanao

6. Fungicides sprayed
and their health effects
Active
Ingredient
Product
Name/Brand
Documented health effects
Azoxystrobin Bankit 250 EC Highly toxic to fish and invertebrates; not allowed
for use in Canada
Biterthanol Baycor 300EC Possible source of birth defects; not allowed for
use in US farms
Propiconazole Bumper 250 EC Possibly carcinogenic/cancer-causing; contains
reproductive toxins
Tridemorph Calixin 750 EC Causes birth defects; not allowed for use in
Canada and UK
Mancozeb Dithane 448 F Carcinogenic; contains reproductive toxins; may
cause birth defects; suspected to disrupt
endocrine functions
Chlorotalonil Daconil 720 F Carcinogenic; highly toxic to fish and aquatic
invertebrates; bio- accumulates in fish

7. Fungicides sprayed
and their health effects
Active
Ingredient
Product
Name/Brand
Documented health effects
Maneb Maneb 80 WP Causes birth defects; probable source of
carcinogens; potential source of reproductive
toxins
Diteconazole Sico 250 EC No available data
Propiconazole Tilt 250 EC Possibly carcinogenic; contains reproductive
toxins
Mancozeb Vondozeb Plus 80
WP
Potential cause of birth defects
Thiophanate
Methyl
Topsin M 70 WP Very highly toxic to catfish; toxic to earthworms;
causes damage to thyroid glands, producing
hyperthyroidism

8.  Aerial spraying increases the spray drift
increasing toxic exposure
 predictable percentage of spray drift can reach to 3.2 km from
the treatment site -- USEPA
 80 km – in hilly terrain under windy conditions – a study in central
Washington
 contaminates open/exposed bodies of water (rivers, wetlands,
and springs) where people get drinking water
 contaminates the roofs of houses where people usually collect
rainwater for domestic use
 contaminates people, animals, other crops
Why is there a need to ban aerial
spraying?

9. Common occurrence. Children on the way to school is sprayed by pesticides.
Subasta, Davao City. June 2006. Photo by Dags Magaway

11.  Poor regulations on aerial spraying; lack of
enforcement; lack of monitoring
 Regulations for aerial spraying not regularly
monitored by Fertilizers and Pesticides Authority
because of lack of personnel and budget
 No environmental health monitoring
 Vegetative buffer zones near schools, rivers, public
roads, and houses, not complied with by banana
companies
 In Alaska, the current required buffers to protect drinking
water sources is 66 meters
 Proposed buffer zones by different concerned organizations
is >1 mile around drinking water.
Why is there a need to ban aerial
spraying?

13.  Yes
 Dr. Romy Quijano; Dr. Hernandez, et al
 Dr. Lynn Panganiban (Head of National
Poison Management and Control Center and
Dr. N. Maramba (UP College of Medicine), et
al
 Kalusugan Alang sa Bayan (KAABAY)
 DOH study, 2006
Are there local and international
studies that support the ban
position?

14. Drs. Quijano,Hernandez, et al
 11 out 24 individuals examined and water
samples from hand-pump well (source of
drinking water in the community) were
positive for ETU – ethylenethiourea
(metabolite of mancozeb)
 A spectrum of medical complaints and
symptoms that is similar, if not identical to
the symptoms of acute pesticide poisoning
 Occurrence of diseases atypical in quality –
severe anemia in young males and blood
dyscrasias

15.  The growth of plant and marine life were stunted
since pesticide exposure;
 Residents related that coconut trees that used to be
their livelihood stopped bearing fruits. Raising pigs,
chickens and other animals also proved to be very
difficult because they could die when spraying
occurs;
 Meanwhile, fishermen complain about the regular
occurrence of fish kills and scant catch as ever
since the plantation started its operations
Toxic stories
Kamukhaan, Digos Davao del Sur

16. Toxic stories
Kamukhaan, Digos Davao del Sur
 Since 1980s, pesticides and herbicides are applied by
banana plantation daily
 Fungicide sprayed once or twice a month
 Residents nearby complain of strong and odorous
fumes every time aerial spraying is done
 Residents experience suffocation, weakness, nausea,
painful stinging of the eyes and itching
 Residents vulnerable to fever, vomiting, cough and
body aches, asthma, anemia, goiter, and cancer
 Residents believe frequent deaths in the village due
to these illnesses related to pesticide exposure

17. Toxic stories
Kamukhaan, Digos Davao del Sur
 Many cases of still birth
 Many cases of children with abnormalities such as
cleft palate and severe skin diseases
 Many cases of impaired mental development
among children
 Children have stunted growth, delayed
development of secondary sexual characteristics,
suffer wasting and have mental deficiencies
 Many residents exhibited signs and symptoms of
tremors and palpitations suggestive of endocrine
disruption

18. Clamor to ban aerial spraying
 AS stopped in General Santos City in the
1980s
 Bukidnon ban in 2001
 North Cotabato ban in 2004
 Davao City ban in 2007
 Davao del Sur, Compostela Valley, Davao
del Norte residents clamor to be spared
from poison rain!

21. From City Hall
to the
Courtroom
 Plantations filed a case in court questioning the validity
and constitutionality of the ordinance.
 RTC upholds the validity of the ordinance
 CA reverses RTC ruling and declares the ordinance
unconstitutional

22. Pagpakita og Kusog sa Korte

24. Landmark case
 Community assertion of their right to live,
right to health and a healthy environment
vs. business interest
 Power and obligation of the LGU to protect
public welfare vs corporate greed

25. Aerial
spraying
is just the
tip of the
iceberg . . .
The bigger
problem is
corporate-led
plantation style
agricultural
system of
monocropping

27.  Environmental costs
 Contamination of drinking water sources --
groundwater and surface water
 Soil degradation
 Soil erosion and sedimentation of water
 Flashfloods
 Loss of biodiversity
 Global warming
Corporate-led agricultural system
of monocropping is the problem

28.  Health and food safety costs
 Pesticide poisoning in plantation areas (Dr.
Quijano study)
 Food contamination – pesticide found in
fish sample in Tugbok
 Food security costs
 Massive conversion of actual and potential
food production areas especially rice, corn,
vegetable lands
Corporate-led agricultural system
of monocropping is the problem

29.  Circumvents agrarian reform
 Reversal of land access & control under
agrarian reform
 Enhances & facilitates corporate control over
the country’s agricultural and food production
systems
 Labor issues
 Labor contracting only widely practiced in
plantation areas
 Questionable contracts
Corporate-led agricultural system of
monocropping is the problem

30.  Policy issues
 MTPDP – 2 million hectares for plantations, 1
million hectares of which in Mindanao
 DENR Administrative Order 2003-30
 New NCIP regulation on FPIC
Corporate-led agricultural system
of monocropping is the problem

31. Who are against the ban?
Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association
 AMS Group of Companies, Inc (Sorianos of Mindanao)
 Sumifru Philippines (Japanese MNC)
 ANFLO Group of Companies (Floirendos)
 Alip River Development and Export Corporation
 Del Monte Fresh Produce Philippines (MNC)
 La Frutera Incorporated (MNC)
 Lapanday Foods Corporation (Lorenzos)
 Hijo Resources Corporation
 Diamond Farms Inc
 Dizon Group of Companies (Dizons)
 Marsman-Drysdale Group of Companies (MNC)
 Nader and Ebrahim Hassan Philippines
 Saranggani Agricultural Company Inc (Domiguez)
 Nova Vista Management and Development Corporation
 Dole Stanfilco (MNC)
 Tristar Group of Banana Companies (Ayalas of Davao)

32. Croplife – pesticide companies
 BASF
 Bayer Cropscience
 Dow Agrosciences
 Dupont
 FMC
 Monsanto
 Syngenta
 Sumitomo
Who are against the ban?

33. Common occurrence. Children on the way to school is sprayed by pesticides.
Subasta, Davao City. June 2006. Photo by Dags Magaway
As the government dilly-dallies and beyond
the legal and technical issues;
The reality is, people in Mindanao continue
to be sprayed with poison from airplanes.

34. Thank you!
Please visit
www.dirtybananas.org
And sign the on-line petition