We watched the State of the Nation Address of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in order to find out what she had to say about the environment. Just so that I would be enlightened, I looked for a copy of the SONA and read the portion that dealt with her plans for this concern. Following is the transcript of the said portion:
“I ask business and civil society to continue to work for a socially equitable, economically viable balance of interests. Mining companies should ensure that host communities benefit substantively from their investments, and with no environmental damage from operations.
Our administration enacted the Solid Waste Management Act, Wildlife Act, Protection of Plant Varieties, Clean Water Act, Biofuels Act and various laws declaring protected areas.
For reforestation, for next year we have budgeted P2 billion. Not only do forests enhance the beauty of the land, they mitigate climate change, a key factor in increasing the frequency and intensity of typhoons and costing the country 0.5% of the GDP.
We have set up over 100 marine and fish sanctuaries since 2001. In the whaleshark sanctuary of Donsol, Sorsogon, Alan Amanse, 40-year-old college undergraduate and father of two, was earning P100 a day from fishing and driving a tricycle. Now as whaleshark-watching officer, he is earns P1,000 a day, ten times his former income.
For clean water, so important to health, there is P500 million this year and P1.5 billion for next year.
From just one sanitary landfill in 2001, we now have 21, with another 18 in the works.
We launched the Zero Basura Olympics to clear our communities of trash. Rather than more money, all that is needed is for each citizen to keep home and workplace clean, and for garbage officials to stop squabbling.”
How we wish that the President could have been more specific with her plans.
Where will the P2 billion for reforestation be allocated? Would the funds be given to Local Government Units since the implementation of community-based forestry projects have already been devolved from the National Government by virtue of the Local Government Code?
Likewise, P2 billion would be allocated for clean water in the next two years. Again, no specifics just the general statement that there was an allocation.
We noted two significant items though: one is on the Zero Basura Olympics and the other on squabbling garbage officials.
First, the Zero Basura Olympics. The recently launched DENR program is the first of its kind in the country and it aims to fast-track the implementation of the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act. (Republic Act 9003 mandates the segregation of wastes by households with the primary responsibility to oversee its observance being placed in the Barangay.)
If only the law could be implemented right, we need not worry about looking for suitable sites for landfills since only residual waste need to be placed in them. All other wastes would either be reused, recycled or composted. The Zero Basura Olympics intend to encourage the immediate implementation of the law by giving incentives to LGUs and groups for undertaking meaningful projects.
Then she made mention of the squabbles among garbage officials. This too should be looked at what with the recent disagreement between Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay and MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando on where the City’s garbage could be dumped. This on the other hand stemmed from the on-going struggle over the Montalban landfill between Rizal Governor Casimiro Ynares III and Rodriguez Mayor Pedro Cuerpo.
It should be seen in the context that what she is referring to as garbage officials are actually local government officials. The Ecological Solid Waste Management Act places the primary responsibility for waste management on Barangay, Municipal and City officials. The President got it right when she said that government officials should stop squabbling on the issue of garbage. Indeed, the garbage situation would be resolved if only these officials, instead of competing, would learn to be creative and start cooperating.
My take on the Mining Act and if indeed it could be implemented without causing environmental damage in the coming blogs.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Let's Not Wait For Another Disaster Before We Act on Endosulfan
We have kept our silence on the M/V Princess of the Stars incident since after the day it happened. I was certain that there would be a cacophony of voices that would want to be heard on the issue, and a blogger's thoughts would not make a difference in that scenario.
We tried to digest all information that we have heard, read and seen, hoping that somehow we would be able to make sense of these bewildering developments.
Today we decided to break our silence and focus on the insecticide that remains trapped in the upturned vessel. Allow me to get quite technical here.
Endosulfan is a neurotoxic organochlorine insecticide of the cyclodiene family of pesticides. It is an endocrine disruptor, and it is highly acutely toxic. It is banned in the European Union, Cambodia, and several other countries, while its use is restricted in other countries, including the Philippines. It is still used extensively in many countries including the US and India. It is made by Bayer CropScience, Makhteshim-Agan, and Hindustan Insecticides Limited among others, and sold under the tradenames Thionex, Thiodan, Phaser, and Benzoepin. Because of its high toxicity and high potential for bioaccumulation and environmental contamination, a global ban on the use and manufacture of endosulfan is being considered under the Stockholm Convention. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endosulfan)
Following are excerpts from the United Nations Environment Programme's(UNEP) Endosulfan Proposal, a paper submitted at the Third Meeting of Stockholm Convention On Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee held at Geneva, Switzerland from November 19 to November 23, 2007:
"Excessive and improper application and handling of endosulfan have been linked to congenital physical disorders, mental retardations and deaths in farm workers and villagers in developing countries in Africa, southern Asia and Latin America. Endosulfan was found among the most frequently reported intoxication incidents, adding unintentionally further evidence to its high toxicity for humans.
According to the available data, endosulfan is very persistent in the environment and is frequently found in environmental compartments. It has a great potential for bioaccumulation. Due to its physical and chemical properties and atmospheric half-life, and based on modelling data and findings in environmental samples, it has been proved that endosulfan is transported long distances, far from its sources. Endosulfan is a very toxic chemical for nearly all kind oforganisms. Endosulfan has the potential to cause some endocrine disruption in both terrestrial and aquatic species.
Endosulfan causes neurotoxicity and haematological effects and nephrotoxicity. Placing on the market and use of endosulfan has been prohibited in the European Union. However, it is still produced in some countries (Worldwide production estimated at 10,000 metric tonnes.) and it continues to be used in many countries. Given the inherent properties of endosulfan, together with demonstrated or potential environmental concentrations that exceed maximum permissible concentrations; and given the widespread occurrence of endosulfan, including in remote areas; it is concluded that endosulfan is likely, as a result of its long-range environmental transport, to lead to significant adverse human health and environmental effects, such that global action is warranted." (http://www.pops.int/documents/meetings/poprc_3/meetingdocs/poprc3_doc/05/poprc3_5e.pdf)
The pesticide was banned in the Philippines in 1993 but the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority allowed its restricted use in 1995 in order to prevent a disease that threatened the pineapple industry. The ban has not been reimposed on the pineapple growers since then despite the fact that the lifting of the ban was intended to last for only two years.
As we are sighing with disbelief,the main protagonists, Sulpicio Lines and Del Monte are engaging in an intramurals; the two sides are hurling allegations on who is to blame on why the dangerous shipment ended up in the passenger vessel. Sulpicio is claiming that Del Monte failed to declare that the cargo is highly toxic while Del Monte is claiming otherwise.
In the meantime, while they are debating and filing charges in Court, the salvage operations have been put on hold, the retrieval of bodies deferred and all fishing activities in the area stopped. Both living and dead have been affected by this disaster.
The official government stand is still forthcoming and the 10,000 kilograms of the dangerous chemical remains submerged off Romblon. Our Government cannot decide quickly on this very vital issue when what is needed is immediate and swift action.
Let us no wait for another disaster to happen as an offshoot of this disaster.
We tried to digest all information that we have heard, read and seen, hoping that somehow we would be able to make sense of these bewildering developments.
Today we decided to break our silence and focus on the insecticide that remains trapped in the upturned vessel. Allow me to get quite technical here.
Endosulfan is a neurotoxic organochlorine insecticide of the cyclodiene family of pesticides. It is an endocrine disruptor, and it is highly acutely toxic. It is banned in the European Union, Cambodia, and several other countries, while its use is restricted in other countries, including the Philippines. It is still used extensively in many countries including the US and India. It is made by Bayer CropScience, Makhteshim-Agan, and Hindustan Insecticides Limited among others, and sold under the tradenames Thionex, Thiodan, Phaser, and Benzoepin. Because of its high toxicity and high potential for bioaccumulation and environmental contamination, a global ban on the use and manufacture of endosulfan is being considered under the Stockholm Convention. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endosulfan)
Following are excerpts from the United Nations Environment Programme's(UNEP) Endosulfan Proposal, a paper submitted at the Third Meeting of Stockholm Convention On Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee held at Geneva, Switzerland from November 19 to November 23, 2007:
"Excessive and improper application and handling of endosulfan have been linked to congenital physical disorders, mental retardations and deaths in farm workers and villagers in developing countries in Africa, southern Asia and Latin America. Endosulfan was found among the most frequently reported intoxication incidents, adding unintentionally further evidence to its high toxicity for humans.
According to the available data, endosulfan is very persistent in the environment and is frequently found in environmental compartments. It has a great potential for bioaccumulation. Due to its physical and chemical properties and atmospheric half-life, and based on modelling data and findings in environmental samples, it has been proved that endosulfan is transported long distances, far from its sources. Endosulfan is a very toxic chemical for nearly all kind oforganisms. Endosulfan has the potential to cause some endocrine disruption in both terrestrial and aquatic species.
Endosulfan causes neurotoxicity and haematological effects and nephrotoxicity. Placing on the market and use of endosulfan has been prohibited in the European Union. However, it is still produced in some countries (Worldwide production estimated at 10,000 metric tonnes.) and it continues to be used in many countries. Given the inherent properties of endosulfan, together with demonstrated or potential environmental concentrations that exceed maximum permissible concentrations; and given the widespread occurrence of endosulfan, including in remote areas; it is concluded that endosulfan is likely, as a result of its long-range environmental transport, to lead to significant adverse human health and environmental effects, such that global action is warranted." (http://www.pops.int/documents/meetings/poprc_3/meetingdocs/poprc3_doc/05/poprc3_5e.pdf)
The pesticide was banned in the Philippines in 1993 but the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority allowed its restricted use in 1995 in order to prevent a disease that threatened the pineapple industry. The ban has not been reimposed on the pineapple growers since then despite the fact that the lifting of the ban was intended to last for only two years.
As we are sighing with disbelief,the main protagonists, Sulpicio Lines and Del Monte are engaging in an intramurals; the two sides are hurling allegations on who is to blame on why the dangerous shipment ended up in the passenger vessel. Sulpicio is claiming that Del Monte failed to declare that the cargo is highly toxic while Del Monte is claiming otherwise.
In the meantime, while they are debating and filing charges in Court, the salvage operations have been put on hold, the retrieval of bodies deferred and all fishing activities in the area stopped. Both living and dead have been affected by this disaster.
The official government stand is still forthcoming and the 10,000 kilograms of the dangerous chemical remains submerged off Romblon. Our Government cannot decide quickly on this very vital issue when what is needed is immediate and swift action.
Let us no wait for another disaster to happen as an offshoot of this disaster.
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