DAVAO CITY, Philippines—Immoral.

This was how four of the highest ranking leaders of the Catholic Church described aerial spraying in banana plantations in a letter demanding a stop to the practice.

The letter, addressed to the Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA), said aside from being immoral, aerial spraying “infringes upon human health and dignity.”

“We are one with all affected people in Mindanao in working for their deliverance from this immoral practice,” said the letter, signed by Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Rosales, Auxiliary Manila Bishops Broderick Pabillo and Bernardino Cortez and Caloocan Bishop Deogracias Yñiguez.

“We cannot allow their suffering to go any longer.”

“We appeal to the goodness and wisdom of your hearts to value the dignity of life and the integrity of creation over and above corporate gains and profit targets,” said the letter addressed to Stephen Antig, PBGEA executive director.

“We strongly suggest that you rise to the occasion as socially responsible corporate citizens and, on your own volition, halt aerial spraying for public health and social peace,” it added. “Do not do to others what you would not like to be done to you.”

“Please heed this very valid, relevant and urgent concern of the poorest of the poor farmer communities who existed long before your plantations opened,” the letter said.

The bishops, through the letter, said should the appeal be heeded, the Church leaders will not push through with “bringing to the attention of your international market the concerns of poor farmers who have been victimized by your aerial spraying activities.”

The same bishops had commissioned the Archdiocese of Manila Ministry of Ecology to help the group Mamamayan Ayaw sa Aerial Spraying during its stay in Manila.

The group started in Davao City where it successfully lobbied for an ordinance banning aerial spraying.

However, it wasn’t as successful in its lobby for an executive order from President Macapagal-Arroyo that would ban the practice.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency said the drift caused by aerial spraying of pesticides reaches 3.2 km long. At least 200,000 people in Davao del Sur, Davao del Norte, Compostela Valley and Davao City live in communities where the effects of aerial spraying are most felt. Jeffrey M. Tupas, Inquirer Mindanao