Manila Bulletin, Philippines : The clock is ticking for the Philippine's environment

10/01/2004

The clock is ticking for the Philippine's environment

By Leonarda N. Camacho

THE clock is ticking. The most recent seconds were heard from Leyte. No one knows the next environment disaster – when and where.

The good news, however, is we already have on hand the collated and computerized environment survey reports from 79 provinces of the country.

We also have aerial photographs of Philippine forests and mountains for the scrutiny of the experts.

It shouldn’t take long for the experts to assess the reports and make their recommendations.
Then, the national government is morally bound to recast its policies on the environment.

It is everyone’s moral obligation to one another and to the future generations to see that the Philippine environment is preserved.

While it is true that the Philippine environment is in great peril, there is also great promise for rehabilitation.

For example, our forests. The massive denudation of our forests began in the early 1950’s, when the Philippines exported logs. Let us thank God that in the 1970’s, the harvestable forests disappeared and so massive logging slowly came to a halt. However, there are still a few legal and illegal logging going on. Remedial measures such as selective logging may be taken. The Ormoc and Caraga Region tragedies will be a thing of the past.

Secondly, mining. The mining industry developed in the 1950’s and through the 1970’s. There was and till now forest denudation, (because trees are cleared in mine sites) soil erosion and of course water and air pollution. Mining firms discharged and are still discharging thousands of tons of cyanide, acid, alkaline, salt, heavy metals containing mine tailings daily into drainage systems that affect the agricultural lands as well as the fishing industry all over the country.

The mine wastes or tailings when recklessly dumped lead to siltations and poisoning of miners, rice fields and coastal areas, killing fish in the process.

Let us thank God again that world prices of copper, nickel and iron ore went down and mineable ores ran out. The mining industry slowed down somewhat.

But look out! The mining industry vows a comeback. It could but with environment-friendly means and environment-sound policies. It has been shown in the past that the foreign mining firms do not care a hoot about public health and the destruction of our mountains. Filipinos should take over because we care about our health and because we care for our environment.

Thirdly, our oceans and waterways. The modernization and commercialization of the fishing industry marginalized our small fishermen. Foreign poachers are having a heyday in the north as well as in the south. Worst, these poachers use destructive means of fishing and destroy our corals and reefs. In addition, big-time Filipino fishermen use the destructive muro-ami (in spite of the law prohibiting it), zipper and dynamite methods.

Believe it or not, one of the unseen causes of Filipino malnutrition is the dwindling supply of fish for Filipino consumers because we export most of our catch. The horror story recently is that foreign poachers catch our own tuna and sell them in Philippine ports.

Fourthly, the ecological impact of the chemicalbased rice farming and growing of export crops like bananas, pineapples and asparagus, erodes the soil nutrients faster, resulting in the increased use of greater amounts of expensive chemical fertilizer and pesticides.

Let us thank God, again, that the crazy prawn industry of the 1980’s died a natural death because prices fell in the export market. Prawn farming used tons of chemicals.

All in all, the state of the Philippine environment is not hopeless. While there are lots of degradation everywhere, there are lots of great promise.

The Filipino shall survive! Just do your share, okey?