For our Theology immersion, my groupmates and I wandered into the office of Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan (SLB), the social arm of the Jesuits, because we were yearning to help out. What we chanced upon was an immediate call for help. There is something horrific happening in Davao. You see, in the outskirts of Davao City, banana plantations are being aerially sprayed with pesticides. They don’t just spray it on bananas; they spray it on people too. Now, as a student, part of a movement to advocate the banning of aerial spraying in Davao, let me share this story, which I think, needs to be told.
Just adjacent to the plantations of bananas in Davao, communities are nestled. Everytime an airplane navigates the sky to apply the pesticide, the folks who stay at home, the children who walk to school, the coconut farmers and their produce, get a dose of the deadly vapor. Mothers hurry to the hanged laundry to keep it safe from the drift. The children helplessly scurry off for cover. The farmers look on as their harvest decline. Countless members of the community either have skin diseases, some form of cancer, and other illnesses. A number, sadly, have already died.
They say adversity pulls people together and indeed, in the face of this silent massacre, the people from the community have banded together, with the help of some organizations. They have successfully pushed for the banning of aerial spraying in Davao. Intentional or not, the pesticide drift, that is an inevitable by-product of aerial spraying, have caused unaccountable damage to property, let alone life. They also pointed to the fact that there are other forms of pesticide application that will not harm adjacent communities.
Plantation companies have sued in court to declare the ban unconstitutional and prejudicial to their right to business. They have pointed to their valuable and large investments already made for the plantations, and to apply pesticides in an alternative manner will be astronomically costly. The Regional Trial Court thought otherwise and ruled in favor of the people of Davao.
Now the case is in the Court of Appeals (CA), where the decision has been delayed. Yet, early on the case, the CA decided that during the hearing of the case, the ban needs to be temporarily restrained. In which case, what people in the community called “the shower of death” have commenced once again.
As an Atenean, I have always thought that loving my country is part of my education and will be intregral to my vocation after school. This love for country means genuine appreciation of the dignity of our brothers and sisters, especially of the oppressed. Come to think of it, this is a call to all of humanity; to that flicker of the good in our human spirit, to grow in love.
My guess is as good as yours, on why something this pressing is not yet widely reported in the national media. Our countrymen down south needs us now, and we must share in the clamor to make their voices heard. I invite you to partake in the simple tasks of learning more about this story and eventually sharing it with others.
They, we, need all the help we can get. Ateneans, our vocation starts now.
Aaron Marc Misa Dimaano (IV AB DS) is currently philosophizing none-end on existential questions, when not sleeping. He is part of the Di Kami Peste Movement, which is very much open for your support. To learn more about the issue, please visit www.dikamipeste.multiply.com and contact us at dikami_peste@yahoo.com or 09287105207.
