Greenpeace, EcoWaste Coalition, and other environmental groups in the Philippines handed questions to the Philippine Senatorial Candidates (for this May’s local elections) asking for their stand on some important environmental issues such as: climate change, energy, water, solid waste, toxic and waste trade.
The response to the survey wasn’t very encouraging as less than half of the total candidates (18 out of 37) answered the survey. Prominent candidates who failed to meet the survey submission deadline were : Sen. Manuel Villar Jr., Sen. Ralph Recto, Sen. Joker Arroyo, Rep. Francis Escudero, Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano and Rep. Benigno Aquino III. Being detained on rebellion charges however didn’t stop senatorial candidate: Gringo Honasan from answering the survey.
Generally, most of them answered that they were for: the rejection of the JPEPA; adding a moratorium on the building of coal-powered plants, support for the development and use of renewable energy, and allocation of the senators’ pork barrel for sewerage management and treatment.
The controversial Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA) is a very sensitive issue when it comes to protecting the Philippine environment because the agreement between the two countries allows for non tarrif export of toxic waste to the Philippines by Japan.
Reminds me of the time I was on tour in Japan. I was visiting a Japanese dumpsite where trash was being processed for recycling. They gave a talk on the environment on how they were able to reduce the pollution in their country by adding stricter legislation for pollution controls in their factories and that they hoped we would be able to do the same thing in our country. In a way legislation like that helped increase the cost of manufacturing in their country that eventually forced them to outsource their manufacturing to countries with cheaper labor and less environmental protection legislation in place. Along with development and job creation came the downside of industrialization which was pollution. In a third world country that is but one of the many prices that we have to pay in order to put food on our tables.
Article here
Category: Law, Environment
