The document discusses aerial spraying of pesticides by banana plantations in Davao City, Philippines. It notes the health effects of the fungicides used and documents cases of people and crops being damaged by spraying. Studies support banning aerial spraying due to health risks. Davao City passed an ordinance banning it but plantations sued and courts initially overturned the ban. Communities continue advocating for their right to health and a healthy environment over corporate interests in aerial spraying.
1. Stop the ToxicStop the Toxic
ShowerShower
The Ban Aerial SprayingThe Ban Aerial Spraying
CampaignCampaign
2. What is aerial spraying?What is aerial spraying?
form of pesticide application that uses a small
airplane or helicopter
used by Cavendish banana plantations in
Davao City since 1960s
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. Common occurrence. Children on the way to school is sprayed by pesticides.
Subasta, Davao City. June 2006. Photo by Dags Magaway
4. No buffer zones
between plantations
and houses and
plantations and
streets. Common site
in all banana
plantations.
2007. Tamayong, Davao City
5. One of the most important sources of water in Dacudao,
Davao City is now surrounded by a banana plantation.
Feb 17, 2007
6. Traditional community
water frequently aerial
sprayed.
2007. Sirib, Davao City.
Mothers run fast to get
hanged laundry and
secure them inside the
house once they hear
spray planes coming. If
not, they would have to
wash the laundry again to
spare the family from
feeling itchy all over.
7.
8. Crops around banana plantations often get destroyed. Coconut
farmers in Davao experienced up to 90% loss of harvest after the
trees were constantly hit by aerial spray planes. Marang trees also
died. The Davao City government and the Philippine Coconut
Authority both say coconut trees around banana plantations are prone
to dying.
9. Fungicides sprayedFungicides sprayed
and their health effectsand their health effects
ActiveActive
IngredientIngredient
ProductProduct
Name/BrandName/Brand
Documented health effectsDocumented health effects
AzoxystrobinAzoxystrobin Bankit 250 ECBankit 250 EC Highly toxic to fish and invertebrates; not allowedHighly toxic to fish and invertebrates; not allowed
for use in Canadafor use in Canada
BiterthanolBiterthanol Baycor 300ECBaycor 300EC Possible source of birth defects; not allowed forPossible source of birth defects; not allowed for
use in US farmsuse in US farms
PropiconazolePropiconazole Bumper 250 ECBumper 250 EC Possibly carcinogenic/cancer-causing; containsPossibly carcinogenic/cancer-causing; contains
reproductive toxinsreproductive toxins
TridemorphTridemorph Calixin 750 ECCalixin 750 EC Causes birth defects; not allowed for use inCauses birth defects; not allowed for use in
Canada and UKCanada and UK
MancozebMancozeb Dithane 448 FDithane 448 F Carcinogenic; contains reproductive toxins; mayCarcinogenic; contains reproductive toxins; may
cause birth defects; suspected to disruptcause birth defects; suspected to disrupt
endocrine functionsendocrine functions
ChlorotalonilChlorotalonil Daconil 720 FDaconil 720 F Carcinogenic; highly toxic to fish and aquaticCarcinogenic; highly toxic to fish and aquatic
invertebrates; bio- accumulates in fishinvertebrates; bio- accumulates in fish
10. Fungicides sprayedFungicides sprayed
and their health effectsand their health effects
ActiveActive
IngredientIngredient
ProductProduct
Name/BrandName/Brand
Documented health effectsDocumented health effects
ManebManeb Maneb 80 WPManeb 80 WP Causes birth defects; probable source ofCauses birth defects; probable source of
carcinogens; potential source of reproductivecarcinogens; potential source of reproductive
toxinstoxins
DiteconazoleDiteconazole Sico 250 ECSico 250 EC No available dataNo available data
PropiconazolePropiconazole Tilt 250 ECTilt 250 EC Possibly carcinogenic; contains reproductivePossibly carcinogenic; contains reproductive
toxinstoxins
MancozebMancozeb Vondozeb Plus 80Vondozeb Plus 80
WPWP
Potential cause of birth defectsPotential cause of birth defects
ThiophanateThiophanate
MethylMethyl
Topsin M 70 WPTopsin M 70 WP Very highly toxic to catfish; toxic to earthworms;Very highly toxic to catfish; toxic to earthworms;
causes damage to thyroid glands, producingcauses damage to thyroid glands, producing
hyperthyroidismhyperthyroidism
11. YesYes
Dr. Romy Quijano; Dr. Hernandez, et alDr. Romy Quijano; Dr. Hernandez, et al
Dr. Lynn Panganiban (Head of NationalDr. Lynn Panganiban (Head of National
Poison Management and Control Center andPoison Management and Control Center and
Dr. N. Maramba (UP College of Medicine), etDr. N. Maramba (UP College of Medicine), et
alal
Kalusugan Alang sa Bayan (KAABAY)Kalusugan Alang sa Bayan (KAABAY)
Are there local and internationalAre there local and international
studies that support the banstudies that support the ban
position?position?
12.
13.
14. “To remain indifferent to the
plight of those being aerially
sprayed with pesticides is
inhuman.”
Committee on Environment and Natural
Resources Report on Ban AS ordinance,
January 2007
15. Salient Features of the OrdinanceSalient Features of the Ordinance
Bans aerial spraying as an agricultural practiceBans aerial spraying as an agricultural practice
in Davao Cityin Davao City
Gives plantations 3 months to shift from aerial toGives plantations 3 months to shift from aerial to
ground sprayingground spraying
Defines aerial spraying as the application ofDefines aerial spraying as the application of
substances through the use of aircraft of anysubstances through the use of aircraft of any
formform
Requires plantations to put up 30-meter bufferRequires plantations to put up 30-meter buffer
zones to protect adjacent fields, neighboringzones to protect adjacent fields, neighboring
farms, residential areas, schools and workplacesfarms, residential areas, schools and workplaces
16. PBGEA vs.PBGEA vs.
Davao CityDavao City
GovernmentGovernment
Plantations filed a case in court questioning the validityPlantations filed a case in court questioning the validity
and constitutionality of the ordinance.and constitutionality of the ordinance.
19. Court Case: Constitutionality ofCourt Case: Constitutionality of
the Ordinancethe Ordinance
RTC declared ordinance as valid and constitutionalRTC declared ordinance as valid and constitutional
Court of Appeals in January 9, 2009 declared theCourt of Appeals in January 9, 2009 declared the
ordinance unconstitutionalordinance unconstitutional
20. Common occurrence. Children on the way to school is sprayed by pesticides.
Subasta, Davao City. June 2006. Photo by Dags Magaway
22. Grandmother: AerialGrandmother: Aerial
spraying ruined my lifespraying ruined my life
The first time Sally LewisThe first time Sally Lewis
spotted planes spraying forspotted planes spraying for
painted apple moths she stoodpainted apple moths she stood
awestruck by the impromptu airawestruck by the impromptu air
show above her home.show above her home.
"We were told the spray was"We were told the spray was
entirely safe so I just stood thereentirely safe so I just stood there
watching the planes. It felt likewatching the planes. It felt like
soft rain landing on my skin, assoft rain landing on my skin, as
harmless as that."harmless as that."
But within half an hour MrsBut within half an hour Mrs
Lewis, now 62, of Kelston, wasLewis, now 62, of Kelston, was
gasping for air and rushed to agasping for air and rushed to a
doctor. .doctor. .
Sally Lewis and her grandchild, Ana
Ata. Photo / Kenny Rodger
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?
c_id=1&objectid=10482057
26. -““the spraying has already caused seriousthe spraying has already caused serious
damage to people, to crops, to animals,damage to people, to crops, to animals,
and to the natural environment on theand to the natural environment on the
Ecuadorian side of the frontier, and posesEcuadorian side of the frontier, and poses
a grave risk of further damage over time”.a grave risk of further damage over time”.
-““Ecuador's population in the northemEcuador's population in the northem
boundary areas has reportedboundary areas has reported seriousserious
adverse health reactions includingadverse health reactions including
buming, itching eyes, skin sores,buming, itching eyes, skin sores,
intestinal bleeding and even deathintestinal bleeding and even death .”.”
- ““there has also been serious and wide-there has also been serious and wide-
spreadspread damage to non- target plantdamage to non- target plant
speciesspecies, including key local crops such, including key local crops such
as yucca, plantains, rice, coffee, hay andas yucca, plantains, rice, coffee, hay and
others. The consequences of the cropothers. The consequences of the crop
damage have been serious in the contextdamage have been serious in the context
of the subsistence farming needs of theof the subsistence farming needs of the
local population.”local population.”
Ecuador caseEcuador case
against Colombia onagainst Colombia on
aerial spraying ofaerial spraying of
toxic herbicides filedtoxic herbicides filed
at the Internationalat the International
Court Of JusticeCourt Of Justice
March 2008March 2008
29. Landmark caseLandmark case
Community assertion of their right to live,Community assertion of their right to live,
right to health and a healthy environmentright to health and a healthy environment
vs. business interestvs. business interest
Power and obligation of the LGU to protectPower and obligation of the LGU to protect
public welfare vs corporate greedpublic welfare vs corporate greed
30. Campaign DirectionsCampaign Directions
Pursue the legal question at the Supreme CourtPursue the legal question at the Supreme Court
Put Executive to task for aerial spraying – DOH,Put Executive to task for aerial spraying – DOH,
DENR, OPDENR, OP
Consumer advocacy – Japanese, ChineseConsumer advocacy – Japanese, Chinese
markets of Philippine bananasmarkets of Philippine bananas
Editor's Notes
Californians for Pesticide Reform and the Center on Race Poverty and the Environment held a march and rally on Wednesday February 20th in the rural Tulare County community of Plainview to celebrate a victory in protecting rural residents from pesticides being sprayed from airplanes as the buffer zone has been expanded by a 1/4 mile.
