No more time for aerial spray bill

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – The House of Representatives has no plans of passing a bill proposing the banning of aerial spray in the country within its term and opposing parties would have to wait for the next Congress to push for it.

House Committee on Ecology chair Belma Cabilao issued these developments, seen by many as favoring players and stakeholders in the multi-million dollar banana-exporting industry of Southern Mindanao, during a public hearing over the weekend.

“It will have to be re-filed in the next Congress, as we are now running out of time,” Cabilao said.

The first-ever congressional hearing on aerial spraying was held here over the weekend even as a case is still pending in court regarding the implementation of a total ban in Davao City.

Police here estimated at least 8,000 banana industry workers who trooped to the Apo View Hotel to push for the lifting of an aerial spray ban.

Those directly employed by the banana plantations were also joined by stevedores and warehouse personnel who will be most affected if the aerial spray ban would take effect.

The issue on the aerial spray ban came in the midst of the country’s being considered as one of the world’s banana-producing nations.

The Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA), the umbrella group of the Cavendish exporting industry, welcomed Cabilao’s pronouncements. 

“We are happy, but this is just a temporary relief,” said PBGEA president Stephen Antig. “We will have to prepare still, and we will be better prepared.”

Cagayan de Oro Representative Rufus Rodriguez, who was also present during the congressional hearing, vowed he would re-file the bill.

“Of course, of course, this bill will be re-filed in the next Congress as it concerns public health and the economy,” Rodriguez said in an interview after the hearing.

The congressional inquiry was held in an effort to look into the allegations made by both parties, who were pro and against the banning of aerial spray in plantations and farms in the country.