Davao City – A high-level task force (TF) was created to study all angles related to aerial spraying of pesticides in plantations, including its effect on public health and environment, to help President Arroyo make a decision on whether or not it should be banned.

Taking action on the controversial farming practice, President Arroyo said the task force, composed of key government agencies, experts and other stakeholders, should take into consideration internationally accepted standards on aerial spraying in plantations.

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) earlier called on the President to ban aerial spraying of pesticides on banana plantations in Davao provinces as a precaution against disaster pending a scientific study on the soundness and safety of the measure.

“What I said is what the practice in other countries is what we do here. There are other standard practices in other countries,” she told reporters last Tuesday night here about her directives to the new task force on aerial spraying that will be spearheaded by Presidential Adviser on Mindanao Affairs Jesus Dureza.

Dureza, who was also present in the dinner hosted by the President for journalists covering the Mindanao Agribusiness tour at the Waterfront Insular hotel, said the high-level task force would make an “independent study” on aerial spraying of pesticides amid concerns they were harming the health of people and the environment and come up with recommendations to the executive branch.