DAVAO CITY – Once every month, on a Saturday , An-an Gumapac wakes up early to go down the river to take water samples. While most kids her age enjoy the extra hour or two in bed, Gumapac and a few of her friends make their way down to the foot of Mt. Tipolog in [...]
End Poison Rain: Ban Aerial Spraying in the Philippines
The widespread use of aerial spraying of toxic chemicals among banana plantations in the Philippines has resulted in the contamination of communities living close to plantations. Because aerial spraying makes people sick, poisons air and water and destroys crops grown by small scale farmers animals, the Philippines’ Department of Health and Commission on Human Rights said that aerial spraying must be banned. However, it is still practiced by big multinational banana companies like Dole, Unifrutti and Sumifru to save on spraying cost.
Read MoreSave our Watersheds! Stop the Onslaught of Corporate Farms on Davao’s Watersheds
Banana and pineapple plantations have assaulted the slopes of Davao City’s mountains, threatening the natural reservoirs for the production of fresh potable water. The plantations’ non-compliance of national policies regarding the implementation of a 50-meter buffer zone has resulted to a rapidly declining forest cover. Rampant use of pesticides through aerial or boom spraying has also further heightened the risk of contaminating local aquifers and water tables.
Read MoreGo Organic! Sustainable food production that is friendly to people and the environment
Organic agriculture is essential to a healthy watershed because its use of environment-friendly methods prevents the further contamination of our water resources. The world has witnessed how synthetic pesticides and fertilizers have contaminated our water and soil resources. Organic farming offers the only alternative since the use of natural organic fertilizers and methods improve soil quality which in turn improves plants’ resilience to drought and floods. It also protects the water resources and enhances biodiversity by not using pesticides. All these contribute to increased food security without harming people’s health and the environment.
Read More26
Mar
Panigan’s guardians
HAVING grown up with it throughout his life, twenty four-year-old Randy Legaspi has a deep affection for the Panigan river. During his childhood, the river was the place where he could take a quick swim and play around with his childhood friends. But today’s river is but a shadow of its former self. This is [...]
26
Mar
Environmentalists warn of toxic river
DAVAO CITY—Rising levels of nitrate and phosphate in a river that drains into one of the city’s major sources of drinking water are prompting environmentalists to raise health concerns here. If not immediately addressed, the high levels of nitrate and phosphate could degrade water quality at Panigan River and may cause health problems to water [...]