The debate on aerial spraying of bananas in the Philippines has moved to the next level, with the country’s congress considering regulating the practice rather than banning it.
Davao del Norte 2nd District Representative Antonio F Lagdameo told a press conference this week regulation was a better option, with a uniform process replacing companies’ individual safety standards.
Mr Lagdameo referenced a visit in January from industry expert Dr Andrew Hewitt, who said Philippine aerial banana spraying practices were safe and “very professional”.
“My opinion is that you have these things in place in the Philippines, but maybe not formally in a written document as a national standard. So that is something I'd be pleased to help draft – a single page of guidelines for how you should spray,” Dr Hewitt said.
The Philippine Congress is now working on an aerial spraying regulatory law, according to Mr Lagdameo, after hearing testimonies and petitions on the pros and cons of the practice.
Aerial spraying of fungicide to combat the black sigatoka disease was briefly banned last year in the area around Davao City in Mindanao, following complaints the practice was causing health problems for residents.
But a lack of evidence to back those claims, and the high value of the banana export industry to the Philippine economy has meant aerial spraying has continued.
