End Poison Rain in the Philippines

The National Task Force Against Aerial Spraying (NTFAAS) of the Philippines is seeking the support of all health and environment-loving citizens across the globe in asking President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to issue an Executive Order banning aerial pesticide operations in banana plantations in the country.  In line with the precautionary principle, the Department of Healt last August 24, 2009 recommended that the toxic practice be stopped.  It is now the turn of the President Arroyo to act and halt this brazen case of chemical trespass.


We thank you very much for lending your support and solidarity to this urgent farmers-driven movement for environmental health, chemical safety and human rights.

Dear President Arroyo,



We are writing to register our support to the ongoing effort of rural poor communities in Mindanao, Philippines to stop the aerial spraying of agrochemicals in banana plantations.



In the spirit of global citizenship, we state our solidarity with the women and men of the Mamamayan Ayaw sa Aerial Spraying (Citizens Against Aerial Spraying) and many other people%u2019s organizations from the various banana-growing provinces in southern Philippines who are asserting their inherent right not to be harmed by aerial pesticide operations.  We laud them for coming together to halt a clear and present assault against their individual and collective rights not to be subjected to chemical exposure.  We support them in their just quest to keep harmful chemicals away from their bodies, homes and farms.



We commend Health Secretary Francisco Duque III and the Executive Committee of the Department of Health (DOH) for standing by and adopting the key recommendations arising from a study prepared for the DOH by the Philippine Society of Clinical and Occupational Toxicology and the University of the Philippines %u2013 National Poison Management and Control Center, which are as follows:



1.  Establish a health surveillance system to detect effects of chronic pesticide exposures.


2. Perform systematic and periodic monitoring of pesticide residues and metabolites in the environment and do remediation where necessary


3. Develop and strengthen guidelines for protecting communities from pesticide contamination from plantations.


4.  Stop the aerial spraying of pesticides in the light of the precautionary principle espoused by the Rio Declaration of which the Philippines is a signatory.


5.  Shift to organic farming techniques to prevent harm to health and the environment that can result from acute and chronic pesticide exposures.



Now that the country%u2019s number one public health agency has spoken, we respectfully urge you to issue without delay an Executive Order banning the agricultural practice of aerial spraying that will reflect and strengthen the position of the DOH Executive Committee.



Such a policy based on prevention and precaution will surely contribute to the national implementation of the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) that aims to minimize and eliminate the harms caused by exposure to toxic substances.



We further urge you to use the power of your office to direct the banana industry to honor their corporate social responsibility and cooperate towards achieving the recommendations set out by the DOH in the greater interest of public health.

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