Press Release
May 14, 2009

WASTE MANAGEMENT CRUCIAL TO SAVING OUR SEAS - CHIZ

The sorry state of the country's marine resources is a result of the government's failure to enforce key laws on environmental management and protection, opposition Sen. Chiz Escudero said yesterday.

"We have adequate laws to address environmental degradation. But these laws are useless unless the government enforces them religiously. This is why our environment is under constant threat," Escudero said.

"It is ironic that while our waters are among the richest in the world - we are part of the Coral Triangle which has been called the Amazon of the seas - our government merely pays lip service to preserving the oceans," he added.

The Coral Triangle - which spans the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and East Timor - makes up 30 percent of the world's coral reefs and 35 percent of coral reef fish species.

The World Ocean Conference is currently being held in Manado, Indonesia to discuss the impact of climate change on the world's oceans.

The poor implementation of environmental laws, particularly Republic Act 9003 or the Solid Waste Management Act, and RA 9275 or the Clean Water Act, has resulted in tons of waste being dumped into the country's oceans everyday.

"Our seas are critical to our nation's well-being. We are heavily dependent on fish. It is an important component of our diet, and it provides livelihood for millions of Filipinos. Yet not enough is being done to protect this valuable resource," Escudero said.

He said waste effluents draining into the country's oceans through rivers and tributaries have had a very damaging effect on coral reefs, counted as one of the richest in the world.

It is estimated that of the country's 27,000 square kilometers of coral reefs, less than five percent are in excellent condition. Coral reefs are the habitat, breeding, nursery, and feeding grounds of fish and other marine organisms.

Data also show that healthy coral reefs can supply as much as 35 tons per square kilometer per year of fish and other marine resources.

It is also estimated that the country's mangrove forests are fast dwindling. Mangroves are nursery grounds for fish and other marine animals. They also serve as protection for coastal areas from soil erosion.

Mangroves are estimated to generate economic value of around $150 to as much as $1,200 per hectare per year. Today, 95 percent of the country's mangroves are secondary growth, with only five percent listed as old or primary growth.

"Nature has given us everything we need in life. The role of the government is to adopt and implement policies that ensure that these natural resources are preserved for us and the generations to come. This simple fact seems to be lost on this administration," Escudero said.

He said the sorry state of the country's numerous bays and gulfs, where siltation is prevalent, is living proof of this neglect.

"Our environment needs our attention now. The government should immediately enforce RA 9003 and RA 9275. We need to act now because every minute wasted means more waste finding its way to our seas," Escudero said.

News Latest News Feed