Wednesday, August 18, 2021

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/

Local environment groups to revive call on aerial spray ban

Posted: 18 Aug 2021 08:34 AM PDT

FIVE years after it was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court (SC), local environmentalists will revive its call on the banning of aerial spray in all agricultural entities within Davao City.

Dagohoy Magaway, Mamamayang Ayaw sa Aerial Spraying (Maas) president, said in a press release on Wednesday, August 18, 2021, they relaunched their campaign this year because some aerial spray ban ordinances that were successfully enacted in neighboring provinces in Mindanao are at risk of being abolished.

The city government passed an ordinance in 2007 banning the use of aerial spray in all agricultural entities within the city and encouraging ground spraying instead. However, its legality was questioned by several banana companies in court and filed a lawsuit against the City of Davao seeking to strike down the ordinance as unconstitutional.

On August 16, 2016, the SC declared Davao City's ordinance on the banning of aerial spray as "unconstitutional." The high court also denied the motion for reconsideration filed by Maas and the Davao City Government.

Magaway called the SC ruling unjust and unfair as it favored "on behalf of the interests of private corporations, rather than the welfare of its citizens."

"It has taken five long years for us, local Davaoeños, to understand the reasons behind the 2016 Supreme Court's rules in favor of industry-defined technicalities rather than in the defense of innocent lives affected by the fumigation of chemical pesticides in and around the banana plantations," Magaway said.

"That reason is because the justices of the Supreme Court are themselves animals, mga hayop!!! [sic]," Magaway added.

The province of Bukidnon, in 2001, passed a local ordinance banning aerial spray in order to protect the livestock and poultry industries in Bukidnon.

Likewise, in 2004, the province of Cotabato passed an environmental code banning the agricultural method with the stated clause that sprayed farms lay adjacent to poultries, piggeries, cattle ranches, and other agri-based businesses.

Magaway said the SC ruling is now putting the ordinance of Bukidnon and North Cotabato at risk of abolition.

"By using the Supreme Court decision to overturn existing protections, banana corporations may replicate their methods of spraying in Davao City ordinance banning aerial spraying," he said.

"Their silence speaks volumes; it clarifies that commercial animals possess more rights and protections under the Philippine Constitution than us humans do," Magaway said.

In a previous SunStar Davao report, SC said the ordinance is believed to be violating the "equal protection clause in the Constitution since it prohibited aerial spraying regardless of the substance or the level of concentration of the chemicals to be applied and imposed the 30-meter buffer zone in all agricultural lands in Davao City regardless of the size of landholdings."

The ordinance was also deemed to have violated "the due process rights of banana growers."

However, Magaway questioned why not one among the members of the Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association nor of the Supreme Court, questioned the legality or constitutionality of the ordinances of these areas.

In a separate statement, Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability (Idis) said the ill effects of pesticides and aerial spraying have been well documented and researched in numerous international and local studies.

In 2019, Idis conducted a study entitled "Mapping of Cavendish Banana Plantations & Affected Communities of Aerial Spraying in South Central Mindanao" to check the actual situation of banana plantations within the area, verify active aerial spraying practices, and analyze its effects on the community.

The study revealed that four barangays in Davao City have continued and resumed aerial spraying in their plantations -- Barangay Dacudao, Barangay Lacson, Barangay Subasta, and Barangay Lasang.

The group said they are alarmed as there are residential communities and schools adjacent to these plantations with weak agricultural buffer zones.

In relation to the conducted study, the Idis met with different representatives from Fertilizers Authority of the Philippines (FPA), Barangay Sirib, Barangay Lacson, and Office of Councilor Ralph Abella.

During the discussion, Idis said affected barangays shared that numerous trees were cut down to make way for plantations and they noticed a decrease in the production of cacao and other fruit-bearing trees as an adverse effect of aerial spraying.

"Though FPA released Memorandum Circular No. 28, series of 2018, or Good Agricultural practices for remotely piloted aircraft systems for use as spraying, this is not enough," Idis said.

On August 13, 2021, the group visited Dacudao and Lacson to check and ask the residents about their situation and problems regarding aerial spraying. The residents of both barangays revealed that there are no buffer zones between the plantations and their communities.

The group added that some residents are suffering from skin itchiness. They also shared that the schedule of aerial spraying is not strictly observed; residents near the plantations have no idea when the plantations will spray the pesticides for bananas.

"We unite with the calls of the communities to stop aerial spraying in the city. Plantations should shift to non-aerial application methods with minimal chemical drift and impacts that would not affect the residents, farm workers, and children's health and livability. Also, the DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources) should regularly monitor the buffer zones of these plantations and other mitigation measures set in their ECCs (Environmental Compliance Certificate)," Idis Program Coordinator Lemuel Lloyd Manalo said.

Idis also urged DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu to revive the Multipartite Monitoring Team (MTT) for Agricultural Plantations through an administrative order.

The group also called on the Davao City government to fully implement the Watershed Code that prohibits aerial spraying on environmentally critical areas, create a Local MTT for Plantations, and support the proposed city ordinance on banning aerial spray in all agricultural entities within Davao City.

SunStar Davao has yet to get the side of the city government on this matter.

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Children with Covid-19 remain low in Davao City

Posted: 18 Aug 2021 08:31 AM PDT

THE number of children infected by Covid-19 remains relatively low, the Davao City Covid-19 Task Force revealed.

Davao City Covid-19 Task Force Spokesperson Dr. Michelle Schlosser said in a radio interview on Wednesday, August 18, that based on their monitoring, age group below 18 years old remain to have fewer Covid-19 infections.

"As of the moment among the age group, atong working age group ang pinaka-affected. This is between 20 to 29 years old, 30 to 39 years old. Mao gihapon na ang pinaka daghan ug cases. Actually, next in line is the 40 to 49 years old," Schlosser said in an interview on 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio.

(As of the moment, the most affected age group is between 20 to 29 years old and 30 to 39 years old. Next in line is the 40 to 49 age group.)

This developed amid concerns of pediatric Covid-19 hospitalization after some hospitals in other countries recorded a troubling spike of younger patients, which coincides with the alarming number of Delta variant cases. Minors are currently not being prioritized in the vaccination rollout.

Schlosser attributed the strict implementation of curfew and other restrictions prohibiting minors from going out of their residences.

While there are children hospitalized in the pediatric bed, she said that they have not recorded a significant increase among this vulnerable age group.

"Ang atong pediatrics medyo mababa pa rin ang ilahang number of cases because we can attribute this because dili pa man jud allowed nga maggawas ang mga bata except for those working age. Mao ra gyud tong nagagawas kanunay because they are allowed to work," Schlosser said.

(Our pediatric departments remain to have a low number of young Covid-19 patients. We can attribute it to our policies, which prevent children from going out except for the working-age since they are the only ones allowed to work.)

She stressed that the working age remains to be high-risk because of their exposure outside.

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio revealed in a recent interview that the city had already recorded Covid-19 cases since last year.

Davao City is currently under general community quarantine (GCQ) with heightened restrictions until August 31.

Under the GCQ with heightened restrictions, no persons below 18 and above 65, pregnant women, and people with comorbidities cannot leave their residences except for obtaining essential goods and services, or for work in permitted industries.

According to the Department of Health (DOH)-Davao Region as of August 17, the city has now a total of 33,374 confirmed cases with 28,995 recoveries and 1,109 deaths. Of the active cases, DOH-Davao Region reported 3,270 cases.

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Sen. Go confirms helicopter nearly getting into accident

Posted: 18 Aug 2021 08:31 AM PDT

SENATOR Christopher "Bong" Go confirmed that he had a near-death experience after the helicopter he was aboard almost had an accident on Saturday, August 14.

Go revealed this in an interview on "Bisaya Time" aired on dzRH Manila on Sunday, August 15.

The former presidential aide said the chopper was on its way to Basilan from Zamboanga City to attend the launch of two Malasakit Centers.

Go said they noticed the chopper descending rapidly and bouncing twice in the air, with the motor making a strange sound.

The pilot told him a tailwind was pushing the chopper down. He was able to regain control and landed the chopper safely. Go was able to attend the opening of the Malasakit Center without further incident.

"Sa awa ng Diyos at sa awa ni Allah, sa Basilan ako pumunta kahapon, ay ligtas naman po. Galing ako ng Zamboanga papunta ako sa pagbubukas pang-135th Malasakit Center doon sa Basilan Medical Center," Go said. The senator admitted it was the first time to encounter such an incident.

(By the grace of God and Allah, I was going to Basilan yesterday [August 14] — I was safe. I came from Zamboanga to open the 135th Malasakit Center at Basilan Medical Center.)

The Malasakit Center is a One-Stop-Shop where indigent patients can efficiently access financial medical assistance from agencies such as PhilHealth, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, and the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

President Rodrigo R. Duterte signed into law on December 3, 2019, the Malasakit Center Act, also known as Republic Act No. 11463. Under the law, the government is obliged to establish Malasakit Centers in all hospitals under the Department of Health and the Philippine General Hospital. The legislation also authorizes the Philippine National Police to set up such facilities.

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Davao Oriental jail escapees surrender to authorities

Posted: 18 Aug 2021 08:29 AM PDT

THE accused leader of a religious group Pinatikan that escaped from the Davao Oriental Provincial Jail on Saturday, August 14, surrendered to the military three days after.

In a press release, the religious leader Cornelio Galon III, along with 21 others, surrendered to the Philippine Army's 701st Brigade through the Calapagan Cafgu detachment around 2 p.m. on Tuesday, August 17.

According to the report, a Cafgu personnel assigned in the Calapagan detachment is said to be related to one of the surrenders.

The members of the religious group called the "Divine Spiritual Governance of God and Heaven, Inc." surrendered to authorities in Sitio Sawidan, Barangay Tagbinonga in Mati City.

The Davao Oriental Provincial Government, through its official Facebook page, said that five of the surrenderers are inmates while 17 were involved in the attack on the provincial jail.

Galon was arrested in violation of Republic Act 9516 or Illegal/Unlawful Possession of Firearms and Explosives.

The surrenderers were presented to Governor Nelson Dayanghirang.

Dayanghirang said despite the group's contribution to law and order in the province, as some of their members are also Cafgu members, he said they still need to undergo due process of the law.

"Kining tawhana dili man ni kontra sa gobyerno. Gani kadagahnanan sa [ilang] mga kaubanan nga Pinatikan kay mga Cafgu nga kauban nato nga nakigubat ngadto sa mga kontra sa gobyerno. So mao ako tumong nga human panagstorya naa na daan ako paninguha nga unsa paagi tabangan," the governor said.

(These people are not anti-government militias. In fact, most of their members are part of the government fighting against insurgents. This is our goal of having a dialogue with them on what help we can offer.)

"[Pero] sabton nato nga naa man tay balaod. Naa may ebidensya. Nadakpan man siya ug illegal na mga pusil ug expolsives. So atubangon nato na ug tan-awon nato ang pamaagi kung unsa ang possible nga solusyon. Pero dili solusyon ang mangita napod ta ug bagong problema..." he added.

(However, we have to understand that there is a law. There is evidence. He [Galon] was apprehended for illegal possession of weapons and explosives. He needs to face it and look for a solution. But it should not be a solution that causes another problem.)

The governor thanked the group for surrendering and open a dialogue with them.

Galon, along with six other inmates escaped when more than 20 members of Galon's attacked the provincial jail. One of the attackers was killed while another one was arrested Monday, August 16.

The religious leader, according to the report, said the group surrendered as they got tired and worried about their current situation.

"Ni desiyon sila pila ka adlaw kay lisod magtago-tago sa bukid nga wala tay saktong kaon, wala sakto nga financial support," Galon said.

(The group decided days ago because it is hard to be a fugitive in the hinterlands with no adequate food and no stable financial support.)

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

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