RA 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, was a landmark law, enacted in 2001. Sadly, after more than 20 years, according to Our World in Data, the Philippines produces over 1/3 of all oceanic plastic waste in the world. Plastics do not only impact our environment but also our health, livelihoods, food and wildlife.
The Philippine Government recently passed the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Law while a Plastic Treaty is being crafted globally to address plastic pollution.
The West Philippine Sea (WPS) is known as a center of marine biodiversity. It has countless species of fish, coral, seagrass and other marine life existing in interdependence. It is spawning grounds for schools of fish that populate waters throughout Southeast Asia. it may also hold the key to biomedical breakthroughs.
Ironically, WPS is also vastly rich in oil and natural gas. (It can supply power to the grids of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao for at least 20 years.) Extraction of these fuels pose a danger to the rich marine life. It also makes the area a flashpoint, driving sovereignty issues among claimant nations. Land reclamation, seabed mining and other largescale activities make the WPS truly a “hotspot”.
WPS lies well within the Philippine economic zone. According to the late Philippine Ambassador Albert del Rosario, “Under international law, the West Philippine Sea, including Reed Bank, exclusively belongs to Filipinos and no one else.”
To ensure WPS’s protection, several moves have been initiated. Ramon Magsaysay Awardee Atty. Tony Oposa, filed with the United Nation Permanent Mission a petition to proclaim as Asia Marine Peace Park the West Philippine Sea. Rep. Edward Hagedorn filed a bill that seeks to protect parts of the West Philippine Sea from destructive human exploitation. Senator Raffy T. Tulfo filed the Kig and Scarborough Shoal Marine Protected Area Act of 2022 declaring the three (3) nautical miles surrounding the Kalayaan Island group and Scarborough shoal in the West Philippine Sea as Marine Protected Area.
This virtual event is hosted by Green Convergence in partnership with Kamayan Restaurant.
Access the complete episode through this link:
In the past decade, the global divestment movement has been influential in hastening the just transition away from fossil fuels, the primary culprit of anthropogenic climate change. Faith-based organizations have been the largest contributing sector to trillions of financial assets being withdrawn from coal, oil, and gas interests, and invested in more sustainable ventures. It is an example of how to translate faith into action, turning religious doctrines and messages on ecological stewardship into concrete steps that help take care of our common home.
In the Philippines, the Roman Catholic Church has taken notable steps in encouraging fossil fuel divestment. Through collaboration with civil society groups, communities, and other stakeholders, this has resulted in several domestic financial institutions pronouncing their divestment from coal. However, faith-based divestment in the Philippines still faces several economic, political, and social challenges that hinders it from becoming more impactful in accelerating a just transition from fossil fuels.
In the era of the climate emergency, everyone has a role to play in taking care of our common home. For the faith-based groups and the fossil fuel divestment movement, they must identify how to inspire different sectors, including within their ranks, to withdraw their resources from financers of environmentally-destructive activities and invest in practices and systems aligned with a greener collective future.
This online event is organized by Green Convergence and Living Laudato Si’ Philippines with Kamayan Restaurant.
The human body is more than three-fourths water. Our planet is about 71% water. Water is essential for all forms of life. It is the basic element that allows all life forms to function and exist on earth, making Earth the only planet to support life. It is impossible for life to function without water.
In observance of World Water Day and the 33rd Anniversary of Kamayan para sa Kalikasan Forum, Green Convergence focuses on the Kaliwa Dam project, viewed as a solution to the water supply problem of over 15 million residents in the National Capital Region of the Philippines and the oil spill in Oriental Mindoro that has reached nearby provinces, affecting livelihood and valuable marine resources.
What is the current status of the New Centennial Water Source Kaliwa Dam Project? Why did a whole community march for days from Quezon province to Malacanang to protest it? Is there a win-win solution that can ensure water security to a growing population without affecting the lives of local communities? Are there measures to avoid or mitigate oil spills, that have devastating effects on marine ecosystems and biodiversity?
Gerry Arances was represented by Brent Ivan Andres, Research and Policy Officer, Center for Energy, Ecology and Development.
#StopKaliwaDam
#ProtectVerdeIslandPassage
February is love month. Green Convergence for its February Kamayan spotlights Mother Earth. She has evolved to become not only our home but also to provide everything we need for healthy living, fulfilling livelihood, and beyond.
How can we reciprocate this precious blessing that we have received? How can we show love for the environment?
#PusuanAngKalikasan
“Our fragile planet is hanging by a thread. We are still knocking on the door of climate catastrophe. It is time to go into emergency mode – or our chance of reaching net-zero will itself be zero.” – United Nation’s Secretary-General Antonio Guterres
The Philippines needs to go into a path of decarbonization in order to survive the looming global catastrophe our world could face if no action is done today. Green Convergence for Safe Food, Healthy Environment and Sustainable Economy (GC), in partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) as co-convener, together with supporters from other sectors is staging the 4th Philippine Environment Summit: “Caring for Earth: Scaling up Solutions to the Climate Emergency.”
How can the Summit help address the climate emergency? What strategies will be showcased that can scale up our response?
The 27th Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27) held in Egypt last November was a test of global resolve to fight climate change. It drew praise and anger. It managed to avoid the worst, but also avoided the best. What are the achievements and failures of COP 27? How far are we from our global efforts on cutting GHG emissions to keep alive our critical goal of limiting global warming to 1.5˚C from pre-industrial levels? Are we headed toward the tipping point? Is there still hope for human survival? How will all these affect our beloved country?
Applications for reclamation projects, offshore mining, and seabed quarrying are currently flooding government regulatory bodies following the signing of Executive Order (EO) 130 by then President Duterte last April 14, 2021. It lifted a 9-year ban on new mining agreements supposedly to bring significant economic benefits to the country; however, it also opened the floodgates for new mining projects that could bring serious harm to the environment and, ultimately, the economy.
While such projects go through regulatory processes, as required by various Philippine laws, rules, and regulations, can the existing laws of our land be strictly implemented to ensure mitigation of the massive disturbances to our marine resources and ecosystem functions that offshore mining, reclamation, and seabed quarrying will bring?
In the September episode of Kamayan Para sa Kalikasan Forum, we began discussions on the Philippine Peatlands, the newly recognized treasure of the Philippines. Peatlands sequester carbon, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions. They absorb huge volumes of water during the rainy season while providing a water supply during the dry season. However, due to their “combustible” nature, particularly when drained for land conversion, they can easily cause fire and haze that not only aggravate climate change but cause an immediate impact on human health and wildlife populations.
To deepen the initial discussions which focused on private-sector initiatives and engagement in the protection of Peatlands, this month’s forum will focus on government programs.
