$720-million banana industry in danger of collapsing - group

MANILA, Philippines - A newly formed group has warned that the $720-million Philippine banana industry could collapse if Congress passes a measure banning the practice of aerial fungicide spraying in banana plantations.

Without aerial spraying, banana plantations could be more prone to the black sigatoka which could ruin lucrative exports to Japan and the Middle East, said the group which calls itself 911 Movement “Save our Sagingan.”

The 911 Movement is a multi-sectoral group composed of banana industry stakeholders, agarian reform cooperatives, landowners, growers, the labor sector, the religious sector, barangay basic health providers and members of the local government units.

The group was formed to oppose the bills filed by Rep. Rufus Rodriguez and by Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri banning aerial spraying of fungicides in banana plantations nationwide.

In an interview with The STAR, group members said some 500,000 direct and indirect banana industry workers would be displaced and about P35 billion in investments would be lost if the industry collapses.

Led by the 911 Movement chairman Renante F. Bangoy, members of the group flew in from Davao to refute what they describe as erroneous allegations recently reported in a television documentary on the alleged harmful effect of aerial spraying in banana plantations.

The TV documentary reported claims by a non-governmental group MAAS (Mamayan Against Aerial Spraying) that aerial fungicide spraying in the sitios of Camocaan and Hagonoy in Davao del Sur have resulted in cases of pesticide poisoning.

They said an investigating team sent by the 911 Movement found the allegations to be false and that the alleged victims were alive and healthy.