AMID mounting calls for the total ban on endosulfan, a militant legislator called on the Department of Agriculture and the Fertilizers and Pesticides Authority (FPA) to conduct an immediate inspection and recall of the highly toxic pesticide.

This developed as two other militant legislators filed House Resolution 646 asking the House of Representatives, through the committees on Oversight, on Natural Resources, on Trade and Industry and on Transportation, to conduct an investigation in aid of legislation on the transport of 10,000 kilos of endosulfan in the sunken MV Princess of the Stars.

Party-list Rep. Rafael Mariano of Anakpawis, in seeking the inspection of highly toxic pesticides, particularly endosulfan, said the chemical is still available in the local market despite its category as “severely restricted.”

Mariano said  farmers should be informed of endosulfan’s brand name, like Thiodan, manufactured by Bayer CropScience (formerly Hoechst), along with its harmful effects on the health of people who get in contact with it.

“We [Anakpawis] call on the DA and the FPA to immediately move for the inspection and recall of endosulfan and endosulfan-based pesticides,” Mariano said.

He added that “this should include all pesticides available in the market containing an active ingredient of endosulfan.”

Mariano said that “in 1991 the National Poison Control Center noticed that in many cases of poisoning, endosulfan is one of the major causes.”

“This prompted the toxicology subcommittee of the Pesticide Technical Advisory Committee [PTAC] to conduct a study on endosulfan which resulted in the FPA’s ban on the sale and use of endosulfan with 35-percent formulation,” he said.

Mariano said Hoechst immediately acted by filing a case against the FPA and secured an injunction from the courts. In January 1994, the Supreme Court suspended the lower court’s order. The ban on endosulfan became final in June 1994.

“Del Monte and Dole appealed for an exemption that was approved by the FPA despite opposition from the PTAC,” Mariano narrated.

Besides seeking for its total ban, Mariano also called for the immediate removal of the government’s exemption to Del Monte and Dole even as he maintained that “under strict FPA guidelines, the exemption granted to Dole and Del Monte should be temporary.”

Meanwhile, Party-list Reps. Liza Maza and Luz Ilagan of Gabriela sought the investigation after citing several studies which revealed harmful effects of endosulfan to humans and the environment.

Victims’ kin asked to sign ‘blank’ SPAs

JUSTICE Secretary Raul Gonzalez on Monday ordered an investigation into reports that relatives of the victims of the MV Princess of the Stars are being lured into signing a “blank” special power of attorney (SPA) which could be used for quit-claim purposes.

Arroyo meets relatives of ‘Princess’ fatalities in Cebu

PRESIDENT Arroyo visited some 500 relatives of the victims of MV Princess of the Stars at the Cebu City Sports Center on Wednesday.

AMID mounting calls for the total ban on endosulfan, a militant legislator called on the Department of Agriculture and the Fertilizers and Pesticides Authority (FPA) to conduct an immediate inspection and recall of the highly toxic pesticide.

Interpol forensic experts start identifying bodies

FOREIGN forensic experts assisting local authorities in identifying the remains of those who died in the MV Princess of the Stars disaster have set up a victim-identification management information center (Vimic) at the Cebu Port Authority compound in Cebu City.

Deportation of Pinoys looms

THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has alerted embassies and consulates in the 27 member-states of the European Union (EU) of the possible mass deportation of close to 100,000 undocumented Filipino workers in those countries after the EU Parliament adopted the draft on implementing tougher moves to ease out foreign illegal migrants in the union.

Not all is lost for Pinay in Okinawa rape

AN official of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the US military has agreed to conduct court-martial proceedings against an American soldier accused of raping a Filipino woman in Okinawa, Japan.

China still backing Northrail

THE Chinese Embassy in the Philippines has maintained on Wednesday that the $400-million project for the North Luzon Railways project is pushing through.

First night-capable attack choppers to be delivered in ’09

Benito Ebuen Air Base, Cebu—The Air Force will acquire not only six night-capable attack helicopters but 14, as President Arroyo increased the Air Force’s original budget of P1.2 billion to more than P3.1 billion for the purchase of such air assets.