Waste Disposal Problems in Mandug, Davao City
All over the world there is a growing consciousness and movements engaged in advocacy campaigns against the practice of aerial spraying of pesticides in agricultural plantations Common reasons cited for the campaigns are effects of such practice to human health and the environment.
In the
Philippines, the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) allow only fungicides
to be applied aerially. In Mindanao, aerial spraying is done in contiguous area
of export banana plantations, primarily to control the Sigatoka disease, considered the most serious
pest threat to banana production. The Sigatoka
disease is caused by a fungus that makes banana leaves wither prematurely, thus
affecting the development of the banana bunches.
The City of Davao is soon to decide
whether to ban or not to ban aerial spraying as a method of pesticide
application used in banana plantations which have been operating in the City
for more than three decades now. A total of 5,200 hectares of agricultural
lands in the city have been planted to bananas primarily for export, and 900 hectares
or 17% of these have been applied with pesticides through aerial spraying. Aerial
spraying happens in barangays Mandug, Tigatoo, Tamayong, Manuel Guianga, Sirib,
Subasta and Dacudao.
Non – government organizations
(NGOs), People’s Organizations and the affected communities where there is
aerial spraying and other groups have been pushing for policy change that favor
the banning of the use of toxic chemicals by banana corporations. The issue
whether to ban or not to ban aerial spraying has been a public debate between
the affected communities/concerned environmentalists and the banana industry. Both sectors have
supplied the policy makers with data supporting their position on the issue.
Until now the City Council has not decided on the proposed ordinance yet. It is
waiting for more local studies to be conducted that will document the effects
of aerial spraying to people’s health and the environment.
To respond to
this need, the Kalusugan Alang sa Bayan (KAABAY, Inc.) a health – focused NGO,
and with health as its main concern has decided to conduct this study to look
at the health condition of three (3) communities with aerial spraying.
Objectives of the Study:
1.To identify the most common
symptoms or complaints, and illnesses
of the residents in Barangays
Sirib, Dacudao and Mandug;
2. To identify the common causes of
mortality and morbidity of the
residents in the above three communities;
3. To enumerate the symptoms or
diseases which may be related to
Pesticide exposure;
4. To describe the environmental
conditions which the residents are
exposed to; and
5. To describe the coping behavior
of the residents in dealing with
aerial spray.
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