[Press Release] Greens ask: If DENR doesn’t, who will?

A synergy-promoting coalition of nearly 30 organizations and networks working on various environmental concerns has expressed extreme disappointment in the DENR. The Green Convergence for Safe Food, Healthy Environment and Sustainable Economy (GC) said that while DENR is supposed to protect the environment, recent news reports are proving the opposite. The group disclosed that among…

Human Rights Online Philippines

September 21, 2011

3–5 minutes

Clean Air Act, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Filipino people, Francis Tolentino, Manila, Mining, Ramon Paje, Sustainability

The group disclosed that among the series of news that had drawn their ire was the most recent pronouncement of DENR Sec. Ramon Paje about the possibility of lifting the ban on mining applications and reconsidering even those that had been rejected. GC said Paje has clearly sided with the mining industry versus the will of the Filipino people who have persistently asked that this destructive business be limited if not banned completely.

Paje has also reportedly recommended that areas where mining companies are operating be turned into mineral reserves so that the government can collect a higher percentage of the companies’ income. GC pointed out, however, that while it may seem like a good idea, a closer look would reveal that its downside far outweighs its potential income benefit. Fr. Archie Casey, GC Internal Vice-President, explained, “If that is done, the mining company would have rights over everything in the area and not be subject to the laws that are precisely meant to protect our resources — like the NIPAS on protected areas, IPRA on the rights of indigenous peoples, and EO 23 on the logging moratorium in natural and residual forests. The companies would also have the right to all the water in their reserve, to the detriment of communities living there.” The priest, who represents the church-based JPICC-AMRSP in the Green Convergence, concluded, “All of these are unacceptable.”

Citing a separate news report that MMDA Chair Francis Tolentino planned to revisit incineration as a garbage solution and that Paje had been consulted about it, Marie Marciano, GC External Vice-President and an active zero-waste advocate of the EcoWaste Coalition, remarked, “Sec. Paje should have been the first to oppose this move, because incineration is banned under the Clean Air Act to protect our people and environment from the dioxins, furans, heavy metals and other toxic by-products of incineration.” According to Marciano, although Chairman Tolentino gave assurances that new technologies can keep emissions at a minimal level, there is no safe level of exposure to some of these highly toxic substances, particularly dioxin, and there is yet no ‘high tech’ incinerator that can completely prevent harmful emissions. “Besides, waste can be converted to badly needed resources, so burning waste is tantamount to burning money!” she emphasized.

The group also lamented an earlier report that Paje had recommended the exploitation of the West Philippine Sea for its oil. “Does he not take global warming seriously?” asked GC Secretary Noemi Tirona of the Consumer Rights for Safe Food (CRSF). “He should be the first to advise the President to shift away from the fossil fuel economy, since studies have clearly shown that the Philippines is blessed with more than enough renewable energy sources to power our development far into the future,” she said, adding further, “Exporting the oil for economic gain is not worth the suffering and losses that will be caused by climate change.”

Green Convergence believes that at this point in time, when the environment has been so devastated, DENR should do all in its authority to prioritize the environment. “There are many ways by which we can advance national development through programs that would sustainably utilize our natural patrimony,” declared Dr. Nina Galang, GC President, who also revealed that their coalition had been pointing this out, dialoguing with Sec. Paje precisely to enjoin him to show bias for the environment. “This is his role in the Cabinet; raising money is not,” she stressed, “and if DENR does not speak to the President for the environment’s protection, who will? “

Reference:

DR. NINA P. GALANG
Telephone No. 9296671
Mobile No. 09178538841
GREEN CONVERGENCE for Safe Food, Healthy Environment and
Sustainable Economy (GC)