UP approves peer review
AUTHORITIES of the University of the Philippines in Manila have given the go-signal to subject to critical peer review the controversial health assessment of sitio Camocaan in Barangay Aplaya in the municipality of Hagonoy, Davao del Sur.
The study, commissioned by the Department of Health three years ago, was roundly criticized by knowledgeable experts and observers due to alleged loopholes and inadequacies, after its 11-member study group came out with their findings last May and recommendation that aerial spraying be ordered stopped.
The criticisms came from CropLife, an association of agro-chemical companies servicing cavendish banana planters, and the Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association. Both group asked the UP Manila chancellor to cause the peer review of the study due to certain lapses.
In press statements, CropLife and PBGEA lamented that the study group headed by a certain Dr. Alan Dionisio of the UP Poison Management Center, said that recommended the stoppage of aerial spraying without conclusive evidence of alleged ill-effects of aerial spraying.
The two groups also claimed that banana plantations have been spraying low dose fungicide approved by world bodies like the Food and Agriculture Organization, strictly monitored according to standards set by an international covenant on the dosage of fungicide to which the Philippine export banana industry is a signatory.
Hagonoy Mayor Franco Calida, who organized a people’s inquiry wherein the residents of Camocaan where given a chance to confront the study group of Dionisio a month ago, complained that the village was unfairly shamed before the world and used in fund-raising by certain non-government organizations.
Calida was referring to a roadshow organized by a certain Dr. Romeo Quijano, of Pesticide Action Network, picturing Camoocan as a pesticide ravaged community with some people dead due to pesticide-caused diseases, and some animals and plant in the purok also dying. Quijano’s video presentation was shown in the Neitherlands allegedly to generate support and funding.
It was Quijano’s claims which reportedly prompted the DOH to commission the Camocaan health assessment.
However, Mayor Calida said that many of the allegations of Dr. Quijano were found to be untrue. For example, he said the Dulla twins, Martin and Marlon, which the group claimed to have died due to diseases caused by pesticide were found to be very much alive and are living right in sitio Camocaan. Other persons allegedly mentioned in Quijano’s presentation like Ramil Murillo also debunked claims that what he had was tuberculosis (TB) of the bones which had nothing to do with exposure to aerial spraying. He said that he was brought by Quijano to the Netherlands to be shown to the anti-persticide advocates like him but he was not allowed to speak. He said that he was just used for fund-raising in that trip and that he never benefited from it.
During the dialogue with Camocaan residents during the “people’s inquiry,”
study group leader Dr. Dionisio told the audience that Quijano had nothing to do with their study, forgetting that the opening of the study report specifically mentioned that the reports and claims of Quijano prompted the DOH to commission the study (health assessment of Camocaan).
In their request for a peer review, CropLife complained to UP Manila about the questionable behavior of research professionals in fabricating what they claim to be evidence in their study.
Upon learning about the peer review, PBGEA spokesman Anthony B. Sasin expressed confidence that the review findings will sustain the position of the banana growers and belie the claims of the questioned study.
Filed under: aerial spray, pbgea
