February 24-27, 2003
Sponsored by KMP, AGHAM, CEC, IPTEC-St. Scholasticas College (Manila)
In Cooperation with NAMADDS and CAUSE-DS
I. Background
Kamukhaan is a small village of about 700 people located in Davao del Sur, Philippines, where people are constantly exposed to aerial spraying of pesticides from the adjacent banana plantation. The very poor health and environmental condition of the community was very evident even by casual observation.
An initial gathering of community data, and photo-documentation has already been done. Out of the initial activities, a paper has been produced providing a snapshot of the health and environmental conditions in the community. The paper, including a set of photodocumentation materials, have also been produced and exhibited in various fora.
The publication of the paper on the community in a local newspaper has elicited a libel suit from the banana plantation community against the project proponent, Dr. Romeo Quijano and his daughter (co-author), as well as the publisher of the article.
Members in the community who initially testified to the adverse effects of pesticides being used by the plantation were harassed and made to sign retractions of their initial testimonies. The newspaper that was sued eventually closed down. The fiscal eventually dismissed the libel suit.
The monitoring and support activities in the community continued and elicited further attention both locally and internationally. The people continue to live in extremely poor working and social conditions and are still continually exposed to various pesticides that are known to cause various adverse effects on health and the environment.
In June 2002, Dr. Romeo Quijano and his daughter, Ilang-Ilang, received another court notice that they are being sued again by the same banana plantation company based on exactly the same information except this time, the suit is for civil damages, no longer a libel suit (which is a criminal case).
II. Objectives of the fact-finding mission
A. To get “on the ground information about the health, environmental and social conditions in the village of Kamukhaan
B. To determine the effects of the activities, particularly, the use of pesticides, of the adjacent banana plantation(Lapanday Agricultural Development Company or LADECO) on the health, environmental and social conditions of the people of Kamukhaan.
C. To communicate to the general public (at local and international level) the Kamukhaan situation in order to help generate support for the community.
International Medical, Relief and Fact-Finding Mission
Medical Mission Report
Kamukhaan Village, Brgy. Guihing
Digos City, Davao Del Sur
February 25, 2003
The International Fact Finding Mission (IFFM) visited the village of Kamukhaan on February 25, 2003. Three medical doctors participating in the IFFM Health Team examined 170 community residents ranging in age from a two-month infant to an 81-year-old woman.
The examination consisted of a clinical history and a physical exam. The adults examined included 37 males and 94 females. There were 39 children examined 18 years of age and younger. Of the women examined, 19 were pregnant and/or breast-feeding.
This study was conducted to get “on the ground information about health conditions in the village, and to consider the possible impacts on community health resulting from environmental pollutants, as was suggested in a previous study of this community conducted by Dr. Romeo Quijano. Quijanos study took note of the fact that a banana plantation adjoins the village, and he considered the pesticides used in that plantation as a likely cause of the health impacts he observed. The present study attempts to investigate this hypothesis further.
Given the time limitations and unavailability of laboratory examination, the diagnosis was based mainly on clinical history and physical examination. Still, all three participating physicians independently saw similar patterns in the diagnostic conclusions that they reached, and the consistency of those patterns appears to be so strong as to warrant concern and to suggest a more rigorous follow-up.
The majority of complaints were gastro-intestinal and respiratory. Among the children, a considerable amount of malnutrition in varying degrees was observed. Among the major causes of diseases observed were communicable but preventable diseases such as upper respiratory track infections, gastro-enteritis, intestinal parasitism, and skin diseases of varying etiologies. All of the above are rather typical in poor, rural, Filipino communities.
On the other hand, some atypical patterns were also observed. An unusually significant number of adult males showed signs and symptoms of anemia and possible blood dyscrasias. A significant number of patients, both males and females, exhibited signs and symptoms of tremors and palpitations suggestive of endocrine disruption. In addition, a considerable number of the children showed developmental delays including stunting, wasting, delays in the development of secondary sexual characteristics, and mental deficiencies.
The above pattern of diagnoses strongly suggests that environmental pollutants have significant health impacts on this community. It is consistent with independent studies documenting health impacts from pesticide exposure. Therefore, it is strongly suggested that appropriate government agencies carry out additional medical studies in this community, especially appropriate laboratory documentation.
Finally, one additional point must be made. Efforts by the owners of the LADECO Plantation, adjacent to the village of Kamukhaan, to bring criminal and civil charges against Dr. Quijano, seriously compromises efforts to carry out good research on the health of this community, and it has a chilling impact on all independent groups seeking to study and expose health effects of pesticides. It is hoped that a balanced and independent further health study of this community be quickly carried forward, and that all relevant government agencies and stakeholders cooperate in a positive way. The goal should be to resolve the present polarized situation, and to create full and meaningful accountability.
Team composition:
Dr. Rodney Hernandez, IOHSAD
Dr. Pam Claveria, Health Alliance for Democracy (HEAD)
Dr. Gene Alzona Nisperos, HEALTH-Bukidnon
Jack Weinberg, Environmental Health Fund (EHF)-US
Wennie Wagan, Peasant Education and Studies Center (PESC)
Liza Clemente, REDO-CSWCD UP Diliman
Rev. Ely Ocariza, UCCP-Mindanao
Representatives from Student Christian Movement (SCM)-Digos City
Representatives from ANAKBAYAN-Digos City