Press Release
June 26, 2009

Press statement of Senator Loren Legarda

On imports dropping by 37.4% in April

The record 37.4 percent drop in the country's imports in April does not reflect a preference shift by Filipino consumers from imported to local goods. While I am a staunch advocate of patronizing Philippine-made products, I find this development worrisome because the bulk of our importations are for raw materials used in the processing of goods which we, in turn, export to other countries.

The drop in import and export volumes mirrors a drop in global and local demands for goods, which causes industries to reduce manufacturing volume, scale down operations and to lay-off workers. Clearly, despite the rosy picture being painted by the administration, our economy is still ailing and recovery is still far off the horizon.

On worsening MM air pollution

The worsening air pollution in Metro Manila - with the number of total suspended particulates (TSPs) increasing to 138 micrograms per normal cubic meter in 2008 - shows that not enough is being done to solve the problem.

There must be a strict implementation of the Clean Air Act by the government, a more massive effort to plant pollution-buffering trees by the private and public sectors, as well as a conscious effort by all people to fight pollution.

Pollution in general results to increased mortality rates due to associated diseases like respiratory ailments in the case of high TSPs, takes a toll on the economy on money spent to treat people and on man-hours lost, while generally diminishing the quality of life in affected communities.

On campaign vs internet pornography

I fully support this campaign against internet pornography which was launched by women's rights advocates and religious groups because pornography, in whatever form and in whatever manner it is circulated, destroys the moral fiber of society.

Internet-based pornography is the more insidious kind, though, because even children have access to the internet, thus making them most vulnerable to the dehumanizing and exploitative effects of pornographic materials.

Last year, I campaigned to close an internet website (www.boybastos.com) because of its pornographic content victimizing Filipino women and children, which had been the subject of numerous complaints that reached my office. There should be no lowering of our guards in dealing with this menace.

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