KMU-SMR hails court decision in aerial spray ban

DAVAO CITY-- Kilusang Mayo Uno-Southern Mindanao Region hailed today the decision of Regional Trial Court Branch 17 upholding the ordinance enacted by the city council to ban aerial spraying here and dismissing the petition of the Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA) to halt its implementation.

Last Saturday, the court issued a 37-page decision that commended the city's landmark ordinance while lashing out on PBGEA for failing to prove its claim that the ban was unconstitutional.

"This is indeed a triumph to the communities direly affected by the aerial spray. More importantly, it vindicated the workers of banana plantations who have been sick and crying foul long before there was a massive campaign to ban the fatal spray," said Romualdo Basilio, chaiman of KMU-SMR.

KMU-SMR has six local unions under its wing with members employed in the vast banana plantations of Compostela and Maragusan in Compostela Valley and in Sto. Tomas, Davao del Norte.

"We congratulate the court and the city council for standing by the welfare of the people. It is high time that local compradors like PBGE, that are backed by transnational corporations, face the repercussions of their anti-people practices. This is a win in the struggle for social justice of communities and workers."

The labor center warned the PBGEA not to resort to its retaliation tactics by threating workers with unemployment following the full implementation of the ban.

"Like its classic blackmail when it asked for a restraining order against the ban, PBGEA is sure to threaten to retrench workers or make their work harder in order to send notice to the court and the city government that it does not like the decision," explained Basilio.

"We enjoin all other local government units in the region to follow suit and enact ordinances seeking to stop aerial spray in plantations," concluded Basilio.