MANILA, July 30, 2010—For environmental advocates, President Benigno Aquino’s first State of the Nation address should have included specifics on how his government will work to protect the nation’s ecology.
Environmental group EcoWaste Coalition expressed their dissatisfaction on Aquino’s SONA, saying it lacked focus and did not have any concrete plans on environmental safeguards.
“Honestly speaking, we were dismayed by the lack of focus on environment as if Mother Nature does not matter,” Roy Alvarez, president of EcoWaste Coalition said.
“We share and support P-Noy’s drive for a clean government but we could not help but wonder if environmental protection is in any way central to his crusade for change,” he added.
Alvarez also said Aquino has disregarded the basic ecological challenges being faced by the country particularly the poor and the vulnerable communities.
The group particularly hoped that Aquino has addressed his plans on water crisis and ways to save Sierra Madre and other watersheds as well as the “biodiversity areas from logging, mining and dumping activities on top of implementing rainwater impounding systems for farmers and communities.”
They also expected Aquino to tackle the issues on climate change; forest and biodiversity demolition; marine pollution; toxic chemicals; municipal solid waste; hazardous waste and such.
For his part, Rei Panaligan, Coordinator of the EcoWaste Coalition, said Aquino will soon carry on the mistakes of the past administration that allowed the destruction of the country’s ecosystems and remaining forests if he will not prioritize environmental protection.
In their earlier statement, the eco group has called on Aquino to give attention to Zero Waste and Chemical Safety.
The Zero Waste and Chemical Safety includes the execution of ecological solid waste management; recognition of the informal waste sector in resource recovery and conservation; ban on plastic bags, elimination of lead in paint, adoption of pollution prevention and control measures against mercury, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and other toxic substances,” the report affirmed.
“The ban on aerial spraying of chemicals in agriculture, and adoption of genuine climate-friendly adaptation and mitigation strategies, including “Zero Waste for Zero Warming” are also part of the eco program,” the statement declared. (Kate Laceda)
