Boycott Del Monte Philippine products contaminated with deadly pesticide- calls environmental activist group 

"We strongly condemn Sulpicio Lines and Del Monte Philippines for putting lives of many people at risk by irresponsibly transporting toxic pesticide endosulfan inside a passenger cargo. We suspect this has been the illegal practice by the two companies long before the incident," says Clemente Bautista, national coordinator of environmental activist group Kalikasan-PNE.

Endosulfan is very toxic chemical which is very harmful to human and the environment. Its use was restricted and banned is some countries like Singapore and Philippines.  In 1993 the Philippine government decided to restrict the use of of endosulfan to products containing no more than 5% endosulfan, and to ban its use in rice cultivation. Before the decision, endosulfan is the number one cause of pesticide poisoning in agricultural areas in the country.

Bautista states further that, "These two companies along with corrupt bureaucrats in the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA), Maritime Industry Authority and Philippine Coast Guard should be held accountable for their negligence.  Del Monte's endosulfan toxic shipment could not have been loaded into a passenger ship without the knowledge and connivance of government officials. If the MV Princess shipwreck tragedy did not happen, this crime would not be exposed."

"The national government should immediately remove and clean-up the toxic shipment. Its mere presence in the shipwreck has already creates so much livelihood dislocation and hunger among the people of Romblon province and despair to the family and relatives of sea tragedy victims. If the 10 metric ton endosulfan shipment is released to the environment, a widespread toxic water contamination and massive fishkill could occur in the area. It would directly affects the health of the nearby coastal communities," stresses Mr. Bautista.

According to scientific reports, endosulfan is extremely toxic to aquatic life and known to cause fish kill if release to water bodies. Research has shown that exposure to endosulfan, even at sublethal doses induces behavioural and biochemical changes in fish. Endosulfan runoff from cotton fields killed over 240,000 fish in Alabama, USA in 1995. Because of endosulfan's toxicity to fish, some countries like Canada discourage farmers from using it near water bodies.

"If ever there would be a toxic contamination and fish kill in the area, Del Monte and Sulpicio Lines should be held accountable and shoulder the assistance and compensation of the would-be affected. While the national government should immediately have a mitigation and disaster management plan in anticipation of the toxic contamination," exhorts Bautista.

Already the Department of Health has imposed a ban on eating fish caught near the ill-fated ferry due to the possibility of pesticide contamination in its surrounding waters. Local government officials and fisherfolks are already complaining of the negative effects of the fish ban on their livelihood. 

Endosulfan bioaccumulates in humans and other animals particularly in organs like liver, kidneys and fatty tissue.

"This illegal and irresponsible act of Sulpicio and Del Monte Philippines should not be tolerated and should be castigated by all of us.  We encourage people to avoid buying the products of Del Monte particularly their fruit products which are produced with toxic chemicals like endosulfan," Mr. Bautista advocates.