| |
Background:
The
Philippines is prone to natural disasters,
particularly typhoons, floods, landslides, volcanic eruptions,
earthquakes, and tsunamis, lying as it does astride the typhoon belt,
in the active volcanic region known as the “Pacific Ring of
Fire,” and in the geologically unstable region between the
Pacific and Eurasian tectonic plates. The Philippines also suffers
major human-caused environmental degradation aggravated by a high
annual population growth rate, including loss of agricultural lands,
deforestation, soil erosion, air and water pollution, improper disposal
of solid and toxic wastes, loss of coral reefs, mismanagement and abuse
of coastal resources, and overfishing.[1]
Bayani
Fernando
- The people have to
touch and smell the river water. It is hoped that this exposure will
galvanize them to muster enough political pressure for the government
and the rest to act and conserve the river[2].
- Bayani Fernando and
his officials are known not for protecting the environment but for
illegal cutting of trees. Numerous documents from the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) are clear proofs to
BF’s illegal tree cutting activities[3]
- Recycling waste is not
viable in the Philippines, and it has cost the Metro Manila Development
Authority millions of pesos to operate three of its Materials Reduction
Facilities, according to MMDA chairman Bayani Fernando[3]
- Save the marikina
river program[4]
Chiz
Escudero
- "Pangangalaga ng ating
kalikasan sa pamamagitan ng wastong paggamit nito upang matiyak na ang
ating likas na yaman ay mapapakinabangan ng susunod pang mga
henerasyon"[5]
Dick
Gordon
- RA9399
and 9400, fixing the tax regime in Special Economic Zones and Freeports
in Clark in Pampanga, Poro Point in La Union; and John Hay in Baguio[6]
- RA 9367,
the Biofuels Act of 2007[6]
- As Secretary of
Tourism he accomplished this with his campaign: "WOW Philippines! More
than the usual!"[6]
Gilbert
Teodoro
- Teodoro is more on
anti-terrorism laws, civil rights protection, governance and economic
development, no stand on the environment is seen[7].
Jejomar
Binay
- Jojo Binay is part of
the annual celebration of Caracol, a part of the city
government’s continuing commitment to preserve the cultural
heritage and to promote the importance of preserving and conserving the
environment and natural resources[8].
Jinggoy
Estrada
- Bills, platform and
advocacy only includes labor and employment, human rights, pnp magna
carta and modernization, tax reforms, ofw related bills,
journalism-related bills, decriminalization of libel and local
governance. No platform and advocacy regarding the environment[9].
Joker
Arroyo
- Voted yes for RA 9367
Biofuels Act (13th Congress) and RA 8749 Philippine Clean Air Act (11th
Congress)[10]
- Not much stand for the
environment seen. His advocacies are more on human rights and
anti-corruption[10].
Joseph
Estrada
- Laws enacted by
Estrada are about agriculture, projects on irrigation for farming, and
protection for carabao and other animals[11].
Kiko
Pangilinan
- Shares with the
mission of ABS-CBN Foundation’s Bantay Kalikasan to spread
environmental awareness through education and advocacy. In 2003, Sen.
Kiko allocated 6M pesos worth of project assistance for Bantay
Kalikasan’s La Mesa Ecopark Project. La Mesa Ecopark is a
venue providing for healthful outdoor recreation and a true forest
experience. It is a living classroom and laboratory for environmental
education and aims to be a center for biodiversity conservation[12].
Loren
Legarda
- Over of the
environment, Loren started her campaign for environmental protection
and preservation during her stint as a broadcast journalist [13].
- During her incumbency
as Senator, she actively espoused the passage of important
environmental measures such as the Philippine Clean Air Act (RA 8749)
and Ecological Solid Waste Management Act (RA 9003)[13].
- She also espoused the
clean up of toxic waste left behind by former US bases in Subic and
Clark, and has helped provide medical assistance to children victims of
toxic waste contamination[13].
- Among her co-authored
laws on environmental protection are: Mt. Kitanglad Range Protected
Area (RA 8978), Batanes Group of Islands Protected Area (Ra 8991), and
the Conservation and Protection of Wildlife Resources Act (RA 9147)[13].
- In 2001, she was
awarded by the United Nationals Environmental Program (UNEP) in Turin,
Italy, for her significant contributions for the protection of the
environment[14]
- Biggest project in the
environmental field is the Luntiang Pilipinas (Greening of the
Philippines) Foundation, which she has founded[14]
- Luntiang Pilipinas has
planted over two million trees. As a UNEP laureate, Loren is part of a
global network of environmentalists assisting the UN organization in
caring for the Earth’s resources[14].
- President of Trees for
Life Foundation[15]
- President of Save our
Seas Foundation Inc.[15]
Manny
Villar
- Initiated a privately
funded tree planting drive in his
district. He developed a P10-million tree nursery beside his home [16]
- He also quietly led a
dedicated tree-planting drive
complete with maintenance and watering of tree seedlings planted in the
open spaces of the community[16].
- He set a strong and
principled stance on environment
protection legislation with the passage of the “Clean Air
Act,” a measure that for more than ten years and three
previous
congresses were not able to pass[16]
- SB 941 authored by
Manny Villar "an act providing for
comprehensive conservation, protection, utilization, development and
management of the Philippine exclusive economic zone (EEZ)"[17]
- SB 942 authored by
Manny Villar "an act providing for the
conservation and protection of wildlife resources and their habitats,
appropriating funds therefore for other purposes" and many more[17]
Mar
Roxas
- Directing the
appropriate Senate Committees to conduct an
inquiry, in aid of legislation, on the status of Implementation of RA
9275, otherwise known as “The Clean Water Act of 2004" in
relation to PD 856, otherwise known as the "Code on Sanitation of the
Philippines" to determine appropriate remedial measures that will
ensure that the law is effectively implemented and sufficiently
funded[18].
- Directing the
appropriate senate committee to conduct an
inquiry, in aid of legislation, on the global marine distress safety
system (GMDSS) project that the government entered into in 1998 with
Thomson CSF NCS of France, which has not been installed and activated
at present, and which could have prevented sea mishaps such as the M/V
princess of the stars disaster[19]
Miriam
Santiago
- Most of her agenda are
on education, job creation and
support to entrepreneurs, public order and illegal drugs, youth, women
and family relations, health and demography, justice and human rights,
revision of codes and laws. No agenda on environment was given[20].
Noli
de Castro
- Proposed to President
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo that the
Department of National Defense and Department of Interior and Local
Government be tasked to adopt and implement, as a matter of policy, the
integration of the environmental intelligence in the overall mission of
the intelligence groups of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the
Philippine National Police[21]
- About climate change
- He cited some
demonstration projects that are already in
place, and are aimed to: 1) enhance the capacity of local communities
to adapt to climate change; 2) strengthen the early warning and
surveillance system and improve prevention and management of climate
change-sensitive diseases; 3) develop the resiliency of human
settlements in cities and municipalities to the impacts of climate
change[21].
- Along with other
government agencies and the UNDP, he is
signatory to the Spanish government supported-program on strengthening
the Philippines’ institutional capacity to adapt to climate
change[21].
- VP Noli De Castro
cited the importance of preserving the
environment while pursuing a more aggressive tourism industry[21].
Pia
Cayetano
- Co-chaired the Joint
Congressional Oversight Committees on
the Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999, the Ecological Solid Waste
Management Act of 2000 and the Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004[22]
- “Oil
Pollution Compensation Act of 2007" (RA 9483)[22]
- The landmark law
mandating the use of biofuels. Known as
the "Biofuels Law of 2007" (RA 9367)[22]
- Helps in the promotion
of proper waste segregation by
sponsoring community seminars on ecological solid waste management all
over the country[22].
- Active in the campaign
to revive the heavily polluted
Marilao-Meycauayan-Obando River System in Bulacan-the site of one of
the worst toxic waste dumping incidents in 2006[22].
- Initiated several
sporting events for a cause, including
"Bike for Hope," which raises community awareness on pressing health
and environmental issues[22]
Ping
Lacson
- Voted yes for RA 9367
Biofuels Act (13th Congress)[10]
Sources:
[1]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_issues_in_the_Philippines
[2]http://bayanifernando.ph/profile.html
[3]http://bayanifernandox.tripod.com/baho/baho.html
[4]http://emi.pdc.org/soundpractices/Metro-Manila/SP6-MM-Save-the-Marikina-River.pdf
[5]http://www.chizescudero.com/chiz/aboutChiz.php
[6]http://www.senate.gov.ph/senators/sen_bio/gordon_bio.asp
[7]http://www.newsbreak.com.ph/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3473&Itemid=88889067
[8]http://www.makati.gov.ph/portal/news/view_news.jsp?news_id=2141
[9]http://www.senjinggoyestrada.com/index.php/index.html
[10]http://eleksyon2007.inquirer.net/
[11]http://tl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Estrada
[12]http://www.kiko.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=113&Itemid=127
[13]http://www.lorenlegarda.com.ph/index.php
[14]http://www.senate.gov.ph/senators/sen_bio/legarda_loren_bio.asp
[15]http://www.adnu.edu.ph/AdnuPagmatu2007/legardal.htm
[16]http://www.mannyvillar.com.ph/biography.html
[17]http://www.mannyvillar.com.ph/bills.html
[18]http://www.marroxas.com/new/dl/SR_525_14th
Congress Inquiry on
Clean Water Act 24 Jul 08.pdf
[19]http://www.marroxas.com/new/dl/SR_505_14th
Congress Global Marine
Distress Safety System 14 Jul 08.pdf
[20]http://www.senate.gov.ph/senators/sen_bio/santiago_agenda.asp
[21]http://bicol.da.gov.ph/rafc/resolutions_03/rafc_resolution_01-03-03.html
[22]http://www.senate.gov.ph/senators/sen_bio/pcayetano_bio.asp
|