The news of the recent decision by the Philippine government to stop diving and retrieval operations at the site of the sunken M/V Princess of the Stars due to its shipment of pesticides destined for use by Del Monte is an unmitigated double tragedy for the people of the Philippines! Only 57 survivors were rescued, while hundreds more were noted as either dead or missing, and the searches by the retrieval crews were to hopefully find those still trapped in the ferry.

Not only do the families hoping for news of survivors within the wreckage face loss of hope to find answers of their loved ones fate; now the communities in Romblon province and the salvage crew face threats of exposure from one of the world’s most dangerous pesticides, endosulfan.

“It is totally scandalous that Endosulfan, which is banned in the Philippines, is allowed for use by cash-crop industries such as Del Monte and Dole!” argues Sarojeni V. Rengam, Executive Director of the PAN Asia and the Pacific. “The Philippine government has failed in its responsibility to protect the people of the Philippines. It should have imposed a total ban on this extremely hazardous pesticide. Why are there exemptions on endosulfan use for these multinational companies? And it is only due to this tragic event that these issues have come to light!”

Endosulfan is as an acutely toxic pesticide that poses significant health problems, it can effect the nervous system, causing hyperexcitation and convulsions, and nervous system mediated effects on respiration and heart. Death results from low levels of exposure. Endosulfan is very toxic: it is harmful in contact with skin; very toxic by inhalation; very toxic if swallowed; it is dangerous for the environment; and very toxic to aquatic organisms, and may cause long term effects in the aquatic environment.

The Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority had banned endosulfan, but exemptions were provided to multinational plantation food companies Dole and Del Monte operating in the country. It has been revealed that the 10 metric tons of the pesticide found inside the capsized M/V Princess of the Stars belonged to Del Monte, which runs pineapple plantations in Mindanao.

“In 1994 the Pesticides Technical Advisory Committee made recommendations to ban endosulfan to the Philippines Pesticides Authority. And the exemptions for Dole and Del Monte should only be in place for two years”, stresses Dr Romeo Quijano, Toxicologist with the School of Pharmacology at the University of the Philippines. “But upon this call for a ban, the Pesticides Technical Advisory Committee was not called for another meeting and has been dormant since!” adds Dr Quijano, who is also President of
PAN Philippines.

Cases of endosulfan poisonings, resulting in death or severe disability, have been reported principally in Asia, Africa and Latin America. Effects in survivors include congenital deformities, delayed male sexual maturity, female hormonal disorders, congenital mental retardation, cerebral palsy, psychiatric disturbances, epilepsy, cancers, skin, eye, ear, nose and throat problems, impaired memory, and chronic malaise.

Endosulfan has been the subject of a Campaign for a Global Ban by the Pesticide Action Network, the International POPs (Persistent Organo Pollutants) Network and other concerned groups. It has also been banned or restricted in many countries because of human health and environmental impacts.

For More Information contact:

Sarojeni V. Rengam, Executive Director, Pesticide Action Network (PAN) Asia and the Pacific, Penang, Malaysia.
PAN AP Tel: +604 657 0271/ +604 656 0381 Mobile: +6012 4789545
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Jennifer Mourin, Pesticide Action Network (PAN) Asia and the Pacific, Penang, Malaysia.
PAN AP Tel: +604 657 0271/ +604 656 0381
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Dr. Romeo Quijano, President, Pesticide Action Network (PAN) Philippines;
Professor of Toxicology, University of the Philippines, Manila; and Convener for RESIST Agrochemical TNCs.
Mobile: +639228333531
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it