A group of local government unions in the Philippines is opposing the expansion of banana and pineapple operations due to environmental concerns.
Uniting under the banner of the Allah Valley Landscape Development Alliance, the group recently requested the Protected Area Management Board deny all pending requests to establish further banana and pineapple plantations in areas of South Cotabatao.
According to a report by Business World, the Alliance has said plantations in the region caused soil erosion and contribute to silt build-up in local waterways.
Both Dole and Sumifru currenlty have operations in the area, the newspaper reported.
The alliance groups the municipalities of Lake Sebu, T’boli, Surallah, Sto Niño, Banga, Norala in South Cotabato and Tacurong City and the towns of Isulan, Esperanza, Lambayong and Bagumbayan in Sultan Kudarat.
Flash flooding has also been a problem in the region, the newspaper added.
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