ENVIRONMENTAL WATCHDOG BAN Toxics has called on politicians running in the May elections to address sound chemical and waste management in their platform to protect public health and the environment.
The group raised issues surrounding illegal waste importation, plastic and e-waste pollution, and proliferation of mercury-added products that have long plagued the country.
“Electoral candidates should look into the long overdue ratification of the Basel Ban Amendment to prevent the Philippines from becoming a dumping ground of toxic and hazardous wastes again. The country has long been a victim of illegal waste trading, with the Canada waste issue in 2013 being a prime example. The government should take a stronger stance against waste trading to prevent this from happening again,” it said.
It added that the next set of government officials should prioritize the strict regulation and monitoring of mercury-added products that are being sold illegally.
“While the Food and Drug Administration constantly flags mercury-added
products, online monitoring and test buy operations show that it is still
widely available in the market. Stricter measures to control products
containing mercury should be implemented to protect Filipino consumers from the
chemical’s harmful effects,” BAN Toxics said.
It also cited another issue plaguing
the country - plastic and e-waste pollution, saying the plastic pollution
crisis is one of the biggest waste challenges. In 2015, the country ranked
third as the world’s greatest plastic waste producer, with 2.7 million tons of
plastic waste produced each year. Despite the Philippines’ having one of the
highest garbage collection rates among Southeast Asian countries, a 2018 study
on waste management practices revealed the country’s problem with the proper
disposal of garbage.
“We have yet to see concrete platforms and action plans on health and environmental issues from most of the national electoral candidates. Our government officials and aspirants should also prioritize addressing health and environmental issues among other things,” said Reynaldo San Juan, executive director of BAN Toxics.
“Unless the government develops and implements concrete action plans to
address environmental issues, Filipinos will continue to be vulnerable to the
adverse effects of pollution and toxics. Our right to a healthy environment
should not be overlooked. The protection of the environment will also protect
the health of the Filipino people,” he added. (Malou Cablinda and Mark Navales)
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