Business

Big banana behind Davao bet’s defeat?


Nenita Orcullo, who ran for councilor in the third district, angered Davao's banana companies. (davaotoday.com photo by Barry Ohaylan)

By Germelina A. Lacorte |

Nenita Orcullo says because of her stand against the aerial spraying of pesticides, multinational banana companies launched a "massive campaign," which included intimidating workers in banana plantations, to make sure that she would be defeated in the May 14 elections. Orcullo, who authored the law that will implement the ban this month, said what happened to her sends a strong message to the city's officials that they, too, can be destroyed by the banana industry.

Related stories: Pilot says drift of aerial-sprayed pesticides can?t be controlled | Witness tearfully testifies at aerial spraying hearings

Continue ReadingBig banana behind Davao bet’s defeat?

Pilot says drift of aerial-sprayed pesticides can’t be controlled

Below is a press release sent by IDIS, a environmental group in Davao that is monitoring the marathon hearings on the injunction being sought by the banana companies against aerial spraying:

DAVAO CITY — A retired commercial airline pilot whose background includes waste management and pollution control testified Wednesday that even Deferential Global Positioning System-equipped airplanes used in aerial spraying doesn?t stop drift from reaching non-target areas.
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Continue ReadingPilot says drift of aerial-sprayed pesticides can’t be controlled

Witness tearfully testifies at aerial spraying hearings

Below is a press release sent by IDIS, a environemntal group in Davao that is monitoring the marathon hearings on the injunction being sought by the banana companies against aerial spraying:

DAVAO CITY — A witness of the city government in the ongoing battle over aerial spraying against the big banana aggrupation Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA) twice broke into tears in Tuesday?s hearing at the regional trial court branch 17.

Cecelia Moran, a resident of barangay Dacudao in Calinan District, became emotional when she was being questioned by presiding Judge Renato Fuentes himself before the hearing adjourned.
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Continue ReadingWitness tearfully testifies at aerial spraying hearings

IP Philippines inaugurates IP Research and Training Institute

MANILA — ? The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IP Philippines) today unveils the Intellectual Property Research and Training Institute (IPRTI). The institute is envisioned to be the center of intellectual property education in the country and in the region.

?Education is one of the drivers of national development. Integrating intellectual property education in the consciousness of Filipinos will help foster a creative Philippines that uses IP as a strategic tool for national development,? Atty. Adrian S. Cristobal, Jr., Director General of IP Philippines, said.
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Continue ReadingIP Philippines inaugurates IP Research and Training Institute

Philippines: Bank’s real-estate exposures decline by 4.6%

MANILA — As of end-March 2007, real estate exposures of universal and commercial banks (U/KBs) declined by 4.6 percent to P210.0 billion. The reduced exposure came from real estate loans (RELs) at P14.4 billion, partly offset by the P4.4 billion expansion of investments in securities issued by real estate companies.
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Continue ReadingPhilippines: Bank’s real-estate exposures decline by 4.6%