MANILA, Philippines -- A leftist congressman said on Tuesday that the exemption given to multinational companies Dole and Del Monte to use endosulfan should have lasted for only two years since it was given in 1995.

Anakpawis (Toiling Masses) Representative Rafael Mariano said the Pesticides Technical Advisory Committee of the Department of Agriculture's Fertilizer and Pesticides Authority (FPA) recommended in 1994 that the exemption from the ban should only be for two years.

“The FPA had banned endosulfan [in 1993], but exemptions were provided to multinational plantation food companies Dole and Del Monte operating in the country,” Mariano said.

Mariano is also the chair of the national peasant group Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP, Peasant Movement of the Philippines).

"Despite recommendations for a ban [after two years], the PTAC was not convened again and has been dormant since," he added.

Thus, instead of being exempted for a limited time, Mariano said the firms were allowed to use endosulfan for an indefinite period. "The exemption and the use of endosulfan continued," Mariano said.

Endosulfan is a highly toxic pesticide that poses significant health problems and environmental issues. It has been reported to affect the nervous system, causing convulsions as well as nervous system-mediated effects on respiration and heart.

It suddenly became controversial after a cargo of endosulfan sank with the ill-fated MV Princess of the Stars two weekends ago in stormy seas off Sibuyan Island, Romblon.

Death may result even from low levels of exposure. It can cause problems when inhaled, swallowed, or when it comes in contact with the skin.

“The two-year exemption for endosulfan already lapsed and reverted to the status as a banned pesticide. Del Monte has been using a banned pesticide for almost 12 years," Mariano said.

"Clearly, both the FPA and Del Monte must primarily be held accountable,” he added.

Mariano said farmers and like-minded scientists would like Congress to totally ban endosulfan and other toxic pesticides without exemptions.

“It’s high time for Congress to remove all exemptions granted by the government to multi-nationals. It is the responsibility of these agro-corporations to look for an alternative that is not hazardous and highly toxic,” Mariano said.

Mariano criticized Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap for "dilly-dallying" on efforts to ban endosulfan.

Mariano made the statement after Yap said on Monday that, “the policy decision on whether to continue using it or not can wait for maybe a week or two.”

Yap earlier said the main concern at the moment would be to retrieve the pesticide from the sunken vessel.

“Banning endosulfan and other toxic pesticide is also about saving lives and protecting the environment,” Mariano said.

Mariano said “there are cases of endosulfan poisoning resulting in death or severe disability reported principally in Asia, Africa and Latin America.”

“Yap should not counter-pose the one from the other, dilly-dally about it, and evade accountability,” Mariano said.

“Let me remind Yap that it’s the DA and the Fertilizer and Pesticides Authority’s job to strictly enforce regulations on the importation, distribution, including handling, transporting, storing, and use of banned pesticides,” he added.

“Since when did the DA-FPA sanction the boarding of endosulfan in commercial vessels?” Mariano said.

Deputy Minority Leader Satur Ocampo of Bayan Muna (People First) said that based on the data that the Philippine Daily Inquirer (parent company of INQUIRER.net) published on Saturday, “endosulfan should be banned again in the Philippines.”

“There is a compelling basis for the ban. Health hazards versus the profits of the foreign firm using it,” Ocampo said.

Inquirer research on Saturday quoted the US Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry as saying endosulfan could prevent the human central nervous system from working properly and cause hyperactivity, nausea, dizziness, headache and convulsions.

The report added that the Pesticide Action Network North America, which has been advocating the use of ecologically sound alternatives to pesticides, said endosulfan has been linked to birth defects.

Endosulfan was banned in 1993 but was again allowed in 1995 to arrest a dreaded disease that threatened the country’s pineapple industry.

“We also need to look into its probable effects around the pineapple plantations where it has been applied,” Ocampo said.

Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel of Akbayan said the party-list group was set to file a resolution supporting a ban on the substance.

She added that the resolution would seek an inquiry on why the cargo reportedly was not insured for environmental damage.

“We will look into whether [endosulfan] is indeed important [to agriculture] and how much so,” Hontiveros said.

“Even if it is important but toxic, it should be banned because surely it has an alternative in sustainable agriculture and organic farming,” she added.