DEL MONTE REVEALS 10,000 TOXIC PESTICIDE LOADED to MV PRINCESS--PHILIPPINE SEA

by pinkberry143 | June 27, 2008 at 08:35 am

1334 views | 8 Recommendations | 22 comments

PHILIPPINES -- Headline news today revealed the report of Del Monte Co. informing precautions and warnings to the Philippine Govt that the Vessel - MV PRINCESS of the STARS was carrying 10,000 kilos (10tons) toxoc pesticide for pineapple in Mindanao plantation was loaded to a 40FCL .

Vice Pres. Noli De Castro has ordered suspension and a big possibility of its liscense revocation due to malpractice by carrying a toxic pesticide to a passenger vessel. The MARINA was blamed of being so lenient to the SULPICIO LINES. The Govt has recommended cancellation if proven guilty.

The RETRIEVAL OPERATION was ABORTED today and an immediate medical attention was given to all divers who dived into the wreck.

According to Health Sec Francisco Duque,"Endosulfan is a restricted pesticide for use in pineapple plantations. At toxic levels and following ingestion it can cause death or affect the central nervous system, manifesting as headaches, dizziness, nausea, tremors, convulsions which may also include cardiovascular symptoms," Duque explained. Experts said no antidote is available for the poison. "Treatment is supportive," Duque said, meaning that victims must undergo induced-vomiting to expel the chemical from their bodies." This pesticide is banned in the EUROPE, the Philippines and Cambodia.

So far, no signs of toxic found in all the divers who had medical check ups and fish kill as of the moment but there will be a big possibility of lickage to the sea. Once it happens, more sanctions and lawsuits for none declaration of hazardous pesticide putting the lives of divers in jeopardy.

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Caoimhin1

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 09:32 on June 27th, 2008

pinkberry143, I like this story. It's good stuff.

pinkberry143

at 01:58 on June 28th, 2008

Thanks CAOIMHIN1..hope u can post pics taken from the same loc..

rpshen

at 12:35 on June 27th, 2008

Great story. Definitely gs-able. I can't imagine that much toxin was dumped into the ocean! The gov't should clean up the area as much as possible.

Also, I have a little suggestion for this story. Please use the highlight tool in future, so that our readers know where your stories are coming from, as this looks like you wrote it yourself. Here's our guide to our highlight tool. http://www.nowpublic.com/newsroom/tools/highlight/getting_started.

Thanks for your attention,

rpshen

pinkberry143

at 02:00 on June 28th, 2008

Oh thanx for the guide cuz Im a newbie and I really don't know how to use highlight tools but I got the stories from the local news : TV PATROL WORLD of ABS CBN CHANNEL 2 . The story is being transalated in English because it was broadcasted in tagalog version.. So, I wrote in myself..^^

jpo_photo

at 13:27 on June 27th, 2008

These photos were taken on my trip to Cagayan de Oro, my cousin took me through the farm and it was just an endless sea of pineapples. It's sad to hear about the pesticides and makes me wonder why people haven't gotten sick from eating at the restaurant they have nearby.

jpo_photo has contributed a photo to this story.

pinkberry143

at 02:03 on June 28th, 2008

Hello there.. Thankx so much for the wonderful pics that u've shared us.. Pls continue sharing pics and thoughts.. I love that place so i wonder how it looks now after the storm.. You know, truckloads and tons of sweet FORMUSA pineapple are coming from Cagayan De Oro. I know some people there cuz I use to trade fruits and process as FRESH FROSEN FRUITS like icecream and later then export them in EUROPE, US, KOREA, JAPAN...^^

HIS688689

at 15:22 on June 27th, 2008

I used to work in this company in the 70s and would go around parts of its 10,000 hectare plantation on a pick-up. One could easily get lost in this vast sea of pineapples during nighttime. Good thing we had SSB radios. What I know is that the American management then was a responsible lot, and we were always extra-careful about handling pesticides and fungicides, especially around people. But then the ownership changed hands several times, and I understand it's now being ran by the locals.

Tragic that the retrieval operations had to stopped by VP Noli de Castro for the safety of everyone! I pray the authorities can come up with a win-win solution soon, for the sake of the victims' families.

- HI688689

pinkberry143

at 02:09 on June 28th, 2008

Hello there..

Amazing, I thought, this news won't be cared much but Im happy to hear that it gone so far. Well the American were so strict in mandating health preventives. It's just the same that the DEL MONTE CO. is managing it well with HACCP and HALAL accreditation etc.. Its so happened that the company used SULPICIO LINES to send their chemicals to reach their plantation. There are preventives and its the fault of the vessel company for not so strict in compliance with the rules. The lives of passengers were wasted already and the lives of survivors and divers are at stake!

radioadman

at 03:04 on June 29th, 2008

This photo was taken during one of my trips to Bukidnon, a beautiful place where you will find the vast pineapple plantation of Del Monte is located.

I knew nothing about Endosulfan and its use on the pineapple plant until the news we have heard from the media related to the sea accident.

radioadman has contributed a photo to this story.

pinkberry143

at 11:10 on June 29th, 2008

Hello..

Thank u so much for this contribution..pls post some more if you still have others pics. its good thing that this issue abiut endosulfan is exposed!

More power!

saifullah_ibn_taha

at 05:18 on June 29th, 2008

Pineapples from Del Monte farms provide an integral part of the Pinoy diet as seen in this common dish of Chicken Adobo (coincidentally the pineapples used here are, in fact, Del Monte).

The shock wave of the Princess of the Stars tragedy (the sixth ship to capsize in recent memory) was compounded when DelMonte revealed it's deadly cargo which was not claimed and concealed by the cargo freighter's owners.

saifullah_ibn_taha has contributed a photo to this story.

pinkberry143

at 11:14 on June 29th, 2008

I agree to you..Pineapple is rich in fiber and it has good ability to burn unneccessary fats or cholesterol .

Don't worry, endosulfan is used somehow during their first stage of plantation and not nearly harvesting.. And its just dangerous when its ingested and reached its toxic level. In case these happen, water therapy is the first aid..and push the victim to vomit all to avoid going to its nervous system

Paschen

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 06:04 on July 1st, 2008

pinkberry143, I like this story. It's good stuff. What will be once it happens?

pinkberry143

at 10:06 on July 2nd, 2008

VOMITING, NAUSEA, DIZZINESS and DEATH!- ENDOSULFAN may also be a cause of FISH KILL and "RED TIDE" due to its characteristics as pollutant

Anonymous (not verified)

at 08:47 on July 9th, 2008

Hi, Pinkberry143.
Your profile says you love to travel, see the sights, etc. As soon as am able, I'll send u more pics of Del Monte-Camp Philips, the place where I practically grew up and raised my family. I used to call it Camelot bec. it was so idyllic...

HI688689

pinkberry143

at 09:06 on July 18th, 2008

hello Anonumous.. I just hope u could post ur own photo so we could know some of the member as well..^^, I love Del Monte products and its practical marketing indeed..Im curious by the way the meaning of "CAMELOT" and why u call it that way?..^^

dchristian.robert

at 00:05 on July 19th, 2008

Taken on a trip to the Philippines Del Monte cannery in 2004.

dchristian.robert has contributed a photo to this story.

pinkberry143

at 05:54 on July 21st, 2008

thanks dchristian.robert for thsi contributiion, highly appreciated..hope that i could be there this aug again..^^

HI688689 (not verified)

at 18:10 on August 4th, 2008

Hello again, Pinkberry143!

Here's the lyrics (below) of the song sang by Richard Burton a.k.a. King Arthur of the hit movie and Broadway play of the same title in the 60s. "In short, there's not a more congenial spot, for happily-ever-aftering than here in Camelot" - this sort of describes Camp Phillips, Del Monte, where I worked and raised my family. I also stayed a long time in Camp Roble, inside the Cannery in Mis. Oriental: a beachfront house that would have rivaled Boracay nowadays. No polution, tribute to Del Monte's commitment to the environment!

BTW the newly-elected John F. Kennedy and his wife Jackie were called by the media the "Camelot" couple. I'll have to look for a pix where I wud look inconspicous to my friends at DM, next posting. Take care!!

HI688689

Richard Burton - Camelot Lyrics

http://www.stlyrics.com/lyrics/camelot/camelot.htm

ARTHUR:
It's true! It's true! The crown has made it clear.
The climate must be perfect all the year.

A law was made a distant moon ago here:
July and August cannot be too hot.
And there's a legal limit to the snow here
In Camelot.
The winter is forbidden till December
And exits March the second on the dot.
By order, summer lingers through September
In Camelot.
Camelot! Camelot!
I know it sounds a bit bizarre,
But in Camelot, Camelot
That's how conditions are.
The rain may never fall till after sundown.
By eight, the morning fog must disappear.
In short, there's simply not
A more congenial spot
For happily-ever-aftering than here
In Camelot.

Camelot! Camelot!
I know it gives a person pause,
But in Camelot, Camelot
Those are the legal laws.
The snow may never slush upon the hillside.
By nine p.m. the moonlight must appear.
In short, there's simply not
A more congenial spot
For happily-ever-aftering than here
In Camelot.

pinkberry143

at 02:40 on August 5th, 2008

Hello HI688689 :

What a nice contribution, Ive never heard of it..Is this a peom?hahaha

Btw, the place was really awesome and enchanting...

HIS688689

at 16:18 on August 6th, 2008

Hello, Pinkberry143!
We called Del Monte, and particularly, Camp Phillips, "Camelot" because of its fine, cool weather, fresh air, beautiful view (picture-pretty houses w/ bermuda lawns amidst the pines and rubber/lawaan trees), and friendly community. And there was such harmonious relations between management and employees you seldom find anywhere. Crime was practically non-existent. In short, it was an idyllic spot. You should visit it again and try their 1-inch thick tenderloin steak at the Del Monte Golf Club nr. Kawayanon. The meat comes from DM's own cattle fed with.... (what else?)..pineapple pulp!

To: em-em, hello there! I just uploaded a picture of Camp Phillips (nr the pineapple marker, if u can still remember) which was taken last yr. BTW as far as I know this is the only spot where Del Monte management allows visitors to take pictures. Even the pineapple fields are taboo - much more the factory at Bugo (wonder how Christian managed that?) where the pineapples are processed. BTW again, who were ur parents at Camp Phillips? I may know them. My old man worked in the cannery for 30 yrs. and I myself almost 7 yrs. in the plantation, before being reassigned to Davao in the banana pltns for another 5 yrs.

HI688689