I ATTENDED the three-day Environment Summit led by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and it somehow gave me a revealing update on what's happening around me at least from under my feet to the skies above my head.
We were briefed on the marching orders from the top brass of DENR given in three key points which are "enhance the national greening program, promote responsible mining and strictly implement all environmental laws."
The total ban on plastic is ideal but that is next to impossible considering that many of us use it for our daily activities. Perhaps what can be done is for generators to recover and recycle their products but the bottomline is for end consumers to be responsible in using and disposing these plastics.
Following the orders of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to wage war on corruption, poverty and insurgency, we must also hurdle the war on wastes by religiously observing programs on clean air, clean water and solid waste management.
The DENR presenter borrowed the phrase of Duterte "Malinis nga ang katawan mo pero marumi naman ang kapaligiran mo e di marumi ka pa rin" which roughly translates to having a clean self but dirty surroundings which is by itself untidy in totality.
"What is happening upstream will affect downstream". I heard that phrase from the Forest Management Sector office.
DENR's Ambisyon 2040 Tunay na Pagbabago, Malasakit at Pag-unlad promises the improvement of socio economic condition especially upland people or the poorest of the poor in an outline presented by its regional office.
"Pag gutom ang tao, kawawa ang environment" one presenter commented.
In Conner, Apayao, they are already producing Lanzones, Rambutan and even Durian according to one discussant.
Regional Director Ralph Pablo also mentioned Secretary Roy Cumatu's program which includes restoration of forest covers in protected areas, effective governance, social justice in land titling and protection of coastal and marine resources.
There are hired contractual workers called Basura Patrollers who report mismanaged waste disposals. The reports are submitted to the Environment Management Bureau complete with captured images with geo tagging for a more precise mapping that can be pinpointed by the Baguio regional office. Mention was also made about RA 6969 particularly on the proper disposal of toxic wastes and hazardous substances which affects us practically from birth to last breath.
Regulated or covered under the hazardous waste management component of DENR are lead, asbestos, cyanide and mercury among others.
Chemicals like silver cleaner are sodium cyanide are pollutants. Ozone Depleting Substances or ODS for refrigerants and old cars that uses R12 freon should be replaced with the standard and globally accepted alternative.
How come cyanide reaches small scale miners? This was a question raised on the floor.
An official from the environment agency responded that Cyanide is peddled in the market like pandesal because of greed despite the government ruling that it should only be disposed to accredited users.
Water filter of refilling stations and even households generates hazardous wastes and therefore these should go or be brought to the material recovery facilities administered by the Barangay solid waste management officers. These are in the form of used batteries and used fluorescent, incandescent and LED lamps.
Clinical wastes are hazardous wastes therefore proper disposal should be followed according to the DENR.
On the matter of acquiring an Environmental Impact Assessment certificate by developers, applicants must comply with the requirements of PD 1386 which pertains to a balanced ecology. The ECC is based on the
Philippine Environmental Policy which dictates that every citizen should have a right to a healthy environment.
It was also stressed that the ECC is a planning tool and not a permit. Before a big project starts like the construction of hotels, DENR-EMB must issue a proof of undertaking as to the number of floors, rooms etc.
A sad fact among Filipinos tourists and local visitors is noted that they just throw garbage in parks however when they go abroad, they follow rules and throw garbage in its right place.
The loaded three day activity had many sharing from other environmental organizations and civic groups. The safety officer of PEZA likewise shared some of their best practices. He said "If you fail to prepare then prepare to fail".