EXCERPTS FROM PGMA'S SONA

We wanted to find out what the President would say about energy and the environment. We waited and waited but apparently she concentrated on past accomplishments rather on future plans. Here are two paragraphs taken from her almost one-hour speech today:

"Iyong power rates, ang EPIRA natin ang pangmatagalang sagot. EPIRA dismantled monopoly. But minana natin iyong power purchase agreements under preceding administrations, so hindi pa natin makuha iyong buong intended effect. Pero happy na rin tayo, dahil isang taon na lamang iyan. The next generation will benefit from low prices from our EPIRA. Thank you.

Samantala, umabot na sa halos lahat ng barangay ang elektrisidad. We increased indigenous energy from 48% to 58%. Nakatipid tayo sa dollars tapos malaki pa ang na-reduce pa iyong oil consumption. The huge reduction in fossil fuel is the biggest proof of energy independence and environmental responsibility. Further reduction will come with the implementation of the Renewable Energy Act.and the Biofuels Act..again, thank you."

Towards the middle of her speech she discussed the climate and natural calamities:

"International authorities have taken notice that we are safer from environmental degradation and man-made disasters.

As a country in the path of typhoons and in the Pacific Rim of Fire, we must be as prepared as the latest technology permits to anticipate natural calamities when that is possible; to extend immediate and effective relief when it is not….The mapping of flood- and landslide-prone areas is almost complete. Early warning, forecasting and monitoring systems have been improved, with weather tracking facilities in Subic, Tagaytay, Mactan, Mindanao, Pampanga.

We have worked on flood control infrastructure like those for Pinatubo, Agno, Laoag, and Abucay, which will pump the run off waters from Quezon City and Tondo flooding Sampaloc. This will help relieve hundreds of hectares in this old city of its age-old woe.

Patuloy naman iyong sa Camanava, dagdag sa Pinatubo, Iloilo, Pasig-Marikina, Bicol River Basin, at mga river basin ng Mindanao."

We are hoping that she will try to achieve at least even half of what she promised.

Going Around the Clean Air Act

I read an article in Philstar.com regarding rather ingenious ways that scrupulous persons and firms are trying in order to go around the provisions of the Clean Air Act. Indeed it has been ten years since the law was passed. I think it is high time that we look back, pause and try to take stock of what the law has achieved.

Here is the article:

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=479724&publicationSubCategoryId=200

Activists slam 'greenwashing' of companies
By Katherine Adraneda Updated June 21, 2009 04:45 PM

MANILA, Philippines - A local waste and pollution watchdog today criticized some waste management companies for undermining the true intent of the Clean Air Act (Republic Act 8749) through what it called “greenwashing.”

This as the EcoWaste Coalition urged for the strict enforcement of the incineration ban, as provided under the Clean Air Act, which is set to mark its 10th year on June 23.

According to EcoWaste, the Philippines set “a positive and leading example for the world” when it banned waste incinerators as part of the Clean Air Act. The group said the law’s enactment rightly envisioned the need to veer away from wasteful, destructive and polluting practices that contribute to climate change.

However, EcoWaste also said, while the intent of the Clean Air Act was clear in terms of outlawing waste incinerators due to the toxic and poisonous fumes associated with the process, some waste management companies sanctioned by government authorities have also been busy in their efforts to undermine the law.

“Despite the ban, vendors would not stop peddling costly incinerators, camouflaging their waste burning processes as ‘green’ solutions and giving them modern-sounding labels such as pyrolysis, gasification, plasma, cement kiln co-processing, etc.,” said Manny Calonzo, president of EcoWaste.

“The national and local authorities and the citizens need to stay informed and alert against attempts to ‘greenwash’ modern incinerators,” he added.

EcoWaste explained that “greenwashing” refers to the practice of some companies “to dishonestly spin their policies and goods as ecologically-sound and beneficial to the people and the environment.”