DENR execs face raps over ECC on Balili ash dump site

Five officials of the environment department are facing administrative and criminal complaints for their alleged refusal to release information on activities that endanger the environment and people’s health.

The Philippine Earth Justice Center (PEJC) filed the complaints against Environment Secretary Ramon Paje and four officials of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 7.

The center, among other groups, has questioned the DENR’s reported issuance of an environmental compliance certificate for a coal ash disposal site in the Balili property owned by the Provincial Government in Tinaan, Naga in southern Cebu.

The PEJC questioned before the ombudsman’s office the refusal of some DENR officials to release information and documents, including those related to the Balili transaction.

Lawyer Gloria Estenzo-Ramos and Joan Dulhao said the DENR officials violated the Constitution, Republic Act 9485 (Anti-Red Tape Act), Ra 6713 (Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees) and RA 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act).

”The nation stands to lose its already devastated natural heritage if public officials are continuously not made accountable for their omissions and misdeeds,” the complaint read.

Named respondents to the complaint were DENR 7 executive director Leonardo Sibbaluca; Alan Arranguez, officer-in-charge of the DENR-Environment Management Bureau (EMB); Marcelino Tabuco, DENR-Pollution Control Division chief; and Jay Rosacena of DENR-EMB.

”Respondents’ obstinate, shameless and repeated refusal to deliver the requested documents and to allow complainant to access information of public concern is a gross violation of the State policy of full disclosure and the complainants’ rights to information,” the complaint read.

In a related development, businessman Crisologo Saavedra asked the Office of the Ombudsman to investigate Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia for alleged plunder.

Saavedra, in a letter to Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez, said there was “prima facie evidence” that the governor committed plunder when she agreed for the province to buy the Balili beachfront property for P98.9 million.

The province will charge a Korean power company for every metric ton of coal ash that it will dump in the property – an arrangement groups like PEJC are opposing.

Governor Garcia said her lawyers are preparing a case against Saavedra for malicious prosecution and perjury.

”He’s attacking like a mad dog. He probably thinks he can file whatever he wants, just to land in the papers. He claims to control what the newspaper headlines will be,” Garcia said in a press conference.

The ombudsman’s office recently found basis to investigate the governor, Vice Gov. Gregorio Sanchez Jr., the Provincial Board and other officials over the purchase of the nearly 25-hectare Balili property, a large portion of which was later found to be submerged in water.

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EcoWaste offers earth and budget friendly Christmas shopping tips

As Christmas approaches, we see the shopping frenzy shooting up. Unknown to many, the holiday buying extravaganza can be stressful not only for shoppers and motorists, but to Mother Earth as well.

"With the huge amounts of fossil fuels spent, greenhouse gases emitted and trash created during the most festive time of the year, Christmas can be 'traumatic,' instead of fun, for the climate and Mother Earth," lamented Roy Alvarez, President of the EcoWaste Coalition, a waste and pollution watchdog.

According to the group's "Climate Change Survival Guide," the extraction, transportation, processing, manufacturing, marketing and advertising of products and the disposal after their useful lives consume lots of energy and all result in greenhouse gas emissions that are warming the planet.

This means that every time we buy something, energy was used to produce that item and get it to us, using up earth's finite resources and causing emissions at every step of the path, the EcoWaste Coalition explained.

"We make the holiday pollution worse by our failure to embrace the 3Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle) as core practices in our personal, family and community lifestyles," Alvarez observed.

"If we don't watch our waste size over the joyous holidays, we'll surely end up with another stinking garbage disposal crisis that can ruin the yuletide spirit," he warned.

Metro Manila's garbage, the group said, can go up by one-third, or even double in some areas, during the Christmas holidays due to the widespread consumption binge. The metropolis, according to the Metro Manila Development Authority, produces some 6,000 metric tons of trash daily.

Bins and bags overflowing with plastic garbage, packaging materials, kitchen discards and party leftovers are common sights in the neigborhood during the jolly season, while ugly and smelly dumps thrive on street corners and around market areas, commented the EcoWaste Coalition.

To guide consumers on how to enjoy Christmas without upsetting the family budget and, yes, the environment, too, the EcoWaste Coalition has come up with an initial list of 30 practical earth and budget friendly tips for the season.

"We hope these tips, which were suggested by our affiliates, would help our people in lessening the environmental impacts of our merry Christmas celebration and making it in harmony with faith, life and nature," Alvarez said.

I. PRE-SHOPPING TIPS:

1. Take stock of what you have. Check for things that can be repaired, reused, recycled or even re-gifted before buying new items.

2. Write down all your holiday necessities and take this list when you shop to avoid impulsive purchases.

3. Organize and plan your trips to the palengke, supermarkets or malls to reduce transportation costs as well as ease holiday traffic jams.

4. Set a holiday budget and avoid straying from it; remember to save enough for post-December expenses.

5. Look out for holiday sales to avail of deep discounts for stuff that you and your family truly need. Watch out and support charity fairs.

II. ACTUAL SHOPPING TIPS:

1. Bring your own bayong or reusable carry bags when you shop. Drop plastic bags, join the reusable bag bandwagon.

2. Consider buying in bulk to cut on product cost as well as packaging waste.

3. Pick products with the slightest packaging and avoid excessively packed items.

4. Select products made of recycled materials and with the most recycled contents.

5. Seek and buy goods that are durable and can be repaired, reused, recycled or passed on to other users.

6. Patronize locally-produced stuff, support the local economy and lessen greenhouse gas emissions.

7. Save receipts in case you need to return defective goods and wrong sizes and requirements.

III. ALTERNATIVE GIFT GIVING:

1. Think about re-giving gifts that you may have obtained at one time but have not used.

2. Look through your closet and give away clothes and accessories that your relatives and friends might have been admiring for some time like a pretty scarf, a nice jacket, a cute bag, etc.

3. Share books that have been read and stored in your shelf to friends who share the same interest.

4. Write heartfelt messages to family and friends on recycled Christmas cards and include a photo or two you have of them.

5. Cut up old Christmas cards and reuse them as gift tags.

6. Send e-cards in lieu of paper cards. Personalize them with your own graphic designs or choice photos.

7. Share your signature home-made goodies and dishes, especially from "secret" personal or family recipes.

8. Cook Noche Buena dinners for street children or to families who do not have anything to eat on Christmas Eve.

9. Tell your loved ones that instead of giving them gifts this year, you will make donations in their names to charities, orphanages and environmental projects.

10. Draw or paint creative stuff on flat and smooth stones to make paperweights, plain mugs to make pencil holder or bayong or katsa bag to make your shopping bags more "sosyal."

11. Choose gifts that come with little or no packaging at all such as gift certificates, movie or concert tickets, bus or train passes, raffle coupons, etc.

12. Don't wrap gifts. If wrapping is really needed, try old magazines or newspapers, discarded bandannas or fabric scraps. You can also use craft paper and jazz it up with colored pencils.

13. Give gifts that grow and restore the environment such as plant and flower seeds or bulbs, kitchen herbs or tree saplings.

14. If you feel that you absolutely have to buy something, then patronize local products such as handicrafts made by indigenous and rural communities, jail detainees and the urban poor, non-toxic personal care items, organic products from health and wellness groups, reusable bags from women's and environmental groups, and other gift items from charities and cooperatives.

15. Buy simple notebooks, cover them with attractive used fabrics and write inspirational verses or excerpts from poems and songs at the bottom of every 15th page.

16. When giving toys, choose ones that are free of choking, laceration and toxic hazards, age-appropriate and properly labeled.

17. Shun replica guns and other war toys. Go for toys that promote creativity, non-aggressive behavior and social harmony.

18. Gift your barangay by leading or getting involved in a neighborhood project that will serve the poor or preserve the community environment.

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Ban on unlabelled silver cleaners out

ARE your teeners one of those trendy guys glinting with silver accessories? If they are, beware.

According to some sources, silver accessories made shiny by cleaning solutions flooding the market now have alarmed authorities over reports of poisoning.

On this, the government has issued warnings against silvers being cleaned by silver cleaning solutions that are unlabelled and thus come from unregistered sources.

The culprit, silver cyanide, an active component in the cleaning compound has been detected with over the safe levels in these silver-cleaning products.

Cyanide is a chemical compound that can cause poisoning, especially when cyanide ions are dissolved in water, according to the wikipedia.

At this, the Departments of Health (DOH) and Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) have issued a ban on selling of unlabelled silver jewelry cleaning solution.

In a joint advisory dated September 24, both agencies issued a warning on buying unregistered and unlabelled silver jewelry cleaning solutions or agents proliferating in the market today.

The advisory states, "laboratory analysis of samples of silver cleaners solution show elevated levels of cyanide clearly posing imminent danger or even death to humans, particularly when accidentally or deliberately ingested."

Both agencies said these substances pose as threat to health and safety, thus they stress their strict prohibition and sale in the market.

The advisory also carries a warning to all commercial establishments such as jewelry shops and other retail outlets and ambulant vendors against selling or dispensing these silver cleaners.

By Presidential Decree 881, the law has empowered the secretary of the Department of Health to regulate the sale, labeling and distribution of hazardous substances.

The same decree defines hazardous substance as those which toxic, corrosive, irritant, strong sensitizer, flammable or combustible and that which causes substantial injury when ingested.

The public then is enjoined to report to the DOH any information leading to the apprehension of persons engaged in distributing these products. Any individual in possession of such banned substances may as well surrender them to the DOH for proper disposal, the advisory said.

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DILG memo undermines LGU autonomy, environmentalists say

Anti-mining advocates are reacting to a memorandum issued by Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jesse Robredo ordering South Cotabato Governor Arthur Pingoy to suspend the implementation of the Provincial Environment Code that bans open-pit mining.

Robredo has issued the memorandum for Gov. Pingoy and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan asking for a review of the code and make the necessary amendments as needed. He also ordered “the immediate suspension of the implementation of said ordinance pending its review.”

Jaybee Garganera, national coordinator of Alyansa Tigil Mina, said Robredo’s memo is “undermining the local autonomy of local governments, and puts at risk the ecological integrity of South Cotabato.”

“It appears this government is just like the Arroyo regime, that, despite the people’s call to stop destructive mining, [it is determined to go on],” Garganera said.

Judy Pasimio, executive director of Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center (LRC-KsK/FOE Phils) also expressed alarm that Robredo who is said to champion the autonomy of LGUs is curtailing the prerogative of the provincial governor of South Cotabato in his position to protect the environment from the adverse impacts of large scale mining.

“Why is Robredo ordering the suspension of the ban on open pit mining? Is it now unconstitutional under the Aquino government for a local government to fulfill its function of putting its constituents’ interests first over profit?” Pasimio asked.

Garganera lamented that Robredo’s power to issue a memorandum is being exploited to allow the destructive means of mining to continue.

“It is unfortunate that Sec. Robredo and his power to issue a memorandum, is being used to allow the practice of a very destructive means of mining such as open-pit mining, on the grounds that it is not in accordance with the Philippine Mining Act. Now, how do we reconcile this with the power of the local government to protect its province and assert it autonomy?” he asked.

It is said that the Tampakan mining project would contribute around $40 billion to Philippine economy at the end of its mine life in 20 years.

But the Church and the local community have consistently opposed the mining project because of its impact on the environment and people’s health and livelihood.

The local government drafted an Environment Code which took almost five years to make, prohibiting open-pit mining. It was approved by the provincial council and affirmed by then Governor Daisy Fuentes in July 2010.

Newly-elected South Cotabato Governor Arthur Pingoy implemented the code when he assumed office.

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DOH to tighten measures against toxic plastic toys

THE Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday assured the public that they would do some preventive measures on all plastic toys that are being sold in the country now that the Christmas season is coming. Health Secretary Enrique Ona in a radio interview said that the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) would conduct tests to some plastic toys that are being sold in the market to know if it will be hazardous for children.

Ona also said that the FDA would tighten security against all imported toy products that would enter our country.

The secretary, however, admitted that the department does not have a policy that would control the selling of imported toy products, but he assured that they would do a long-term solution to the said problem.

Meanwhile, despite the recent warning of the EcoWaste Coalition about the danger of toxic plastic toys might bring to the public especially to children, plastic toys containing a chemical compound called “phthalates” are still being sold in Divisoria, Manila.

The phthalates (pronounced as THAL-ates), commonly found in various toy products create hazardous effect in the children’s health, as it can be easily ingested, inhaled or absorbed through the skin. This chemical compound could interfere with the production of testosterone and have been associated with reproductive abnormalities.

Moreover, since 1999 the Health department had warned that phthalates may cause adverse health effects such as liver and kidney wounds, reproductive abnormalities and immune system defects.

The coalition also advice consumers should check the labels of toys to ensure that the toys they will buy do not contain hazardous chemical such as phthalate.

On choosing toys
The Women in Europe for a Common Future (WECF), however, published tips for choosing safe toys:
• Less is more! Buy fewer toys, aim for quality over quantity;
• Avoid very cheap toys because they often contain more hazardous chemicals;
• Do not buy a toy with a strong chemical or perfumed smell or if it feels uncomfortable to the touch;
• For young children, make sure that no small parts can be pulled off and swallowed;
• Unpack any new toy and leave it outdoors to let some of the hazardous chemicals to evaporate;
• For dolls: buy rag dolls and wash stuffed dolls before use;
• For cuddly toys: look for products from natural or organic materials and wash and air toys before use;
• For wooden toys: buy solid, unvarnished and unpainted wooden toys with as few glued parts as possible;
• For plastic toys: choose natural rubber toys, look for PVC-free and phthalate-free labels and avoid products which smell strongly of chemicals;
• For art materials and cosmetics: do not buy fragranced toys, as these can trigger lifelong fragrance allergies, which cannot be cured; choose products with food or plant colorings and without preservatives.

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Rising mercury contamination center stage at Senate

Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, Senate Committee Chair on Environment has issued warning against the rising mercury contamination in the country as he pushed for measures to immediately address its rampant use and emission in artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) communities.



In a privilege speech delivered before the Senate yesterday, Zubiri cited studies showing high mercury levels in humans, marine organisms such as fishes and mollusks, and in environmental media such as soil and water. He warned against the dangers posed by mercury to the life of miners, their families and communities living within the affected regions noting that the most vulnerable to the toxins are pregnant women and children.



“We need to re-assess traditional mining practices before seeking new technologies to improve work practices in the ASGM sector,” suggests Zubiri noting that higher gold prices and the rush to get as much gold ahead of the others have forced many small-scale gold miners to use mercury. Traditional gold miners in the Philippines have long been known for their indigenous method of mining in accordance with their customs and with less impact on the environment.



“But because of the use of toxic chemicals, the difference between the gold-rush miners and the traditional small-scale miners are vanishing. More and more are gravitating towards the use of mercury and cyanide,” added Zubiri.



Drawing on the ASGM facts and figures provided by Ban Toxics, Zubiri elaborated on the issues surrounding ASGM in the Philippines, an industry responsible for about 80 percent of the country’s reported annual gold production but is also known as the largest emitter of mercury.



Zubiri also took note of the costs of producing gold, which he said is proving to be very costly not just in terms of expenditures related to the acts of mining and processing but also in terms of the havoc it brings to the environment. “When our food source and people’s health are affected, it is best that we choose caution and go slow on mining. We could not sacrifice our environment and the health of our people for all the glitters of a gold bar.”



Atty. Richard Gutierrez, Executive Director of Ban Toxics said that when evaluating costs of an industry it is critical that not only the economic costs be considered, but costs to the environment, health, and society of producing gold should be internalized as well. “We recognize the contributions of ASGM to rural economies. However, we have not considered the cost of cleaning up mercury pollution, health impacts to communities and miners, monitoring of fish and water, etc. It is important that the national and local governments seriously consider these issues when they look at mercury-use in ASGM.”



Aside from mercury contamination, ASGM has likewise been blamed for its poor social and health performance, being confronted with issues ranging from exploitation of workers, child labor, community exposure to health and environmental hazards, landscape destruction, to aggravation of forest denudation, among others.



Zubiri’s privilege speech was delivered while local and international experts meet in the Philippines for a three-day forum which started last December 07 to seek solutions to eliminate mercury use in artisanal and small-scale gold mining, which will be an important aspect in the development of a global treaty to control mercury. The event was organized by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in collaboration with the Philippine government’s Department of Environment and Natural Resources and Ban Toxics.



Zubiri expressed support for the ongoing negotiations for a global pact to prevent mercury use and emissions as he stressed the need to reinforce local and international actions through a ban on production, export, import and strict management of its use and storage.



“Senator Zubiri has taken an important stand against mercury, and we look forward to his increased engagement and championing of the issue in the Senate,” adds Gutierrez. “By 2013 the Senate will be looking at a treaty on mercury for its ratification, and its quick passage in the Philippines takes us a step closer in finally ending the global mercury scourge.”

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10 toxic whitening products resurface in markets

Ten whitening products banned by the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) for containing mercury have resurfaced in the market, the environmental group Eco­Waste Coalition said yesterday.

In a statement, EcoWaste said the banned products are again being sold in some health and beauty shops and Chinese drug stores.

“We are very upset to find these health-damaging skin lightening creams on store shelves despite the repeated FDA threat of filing criminal charges against violators,” said Aileen Lucero of EcoWaste.

Several months ago, the FDA had banned 28 skin whitening products for exceeding the allowable mercury content limit of one part per million.

EcoWaste said it conducted market surveillance last week.

“Our latest test buys only underscore the need for firm and strict law enforcement in order to protect Filipino consumers from mercury exposure in personal care products,” Lucero said.

These banned whitening products are: Beauty Girl Ginseng and Green Cucumber, Beauty Girl Olive and Sheep Essence, Dr. Bai, Jiao Li 7-Days Eliminating Freckle AB Set, Jiao Li 10-Days Eliminating Freckle Day and Night Set, Jiaoli Huichusu, Jiaoli Huichusu Whitening Speckles Removal Cream, Jiaoli Miraculous Cream, JJJ Magic Spot Removing Cream, and S’Zitang.

The group appealed to the FDA to go after those responsible for the reappearance of the banned products in the market to discourage others from violating the ban.

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