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.

Reports

Health Team Report
Environment Team Report

Kamukhaan: A Poisoned Village