MANILA, Philippines - Barely one week unto the advent of the new dispensation, one very welcomed news item that came about was Senate Majority Floor Leader’s proposal to create an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) “to oversee the government’s anti-pollution program.” Such proposal coming from a politician at that (PhilStar, July 7th), is a departure from the usual politically tinted words from politicians. Sen. Miguel Zubiri hit it right when he diverted his focus and vouched to protect Filipino lives especially from air- and water-borne pollutants. The poor state of pollution control is aggravated by poor solid waste disposal system. One such case, which needs immediate attention/solution, is the newly completed canal that crosses through the poblacion of my Municipality of Burauen, Leyte, where the town’s liquid waste materials are collected and channeled through the concrete canal and emptied, untreated into the Daguitan River system. This early, Daguitan River that used to be rich in aquatic animal and plant organisms, is losing its natural population of flora and fauna due to death caused by the toxic waste water thrown to it. The river has now been rendered unsafe for washing clothes, much more for the bathing public.
He (Zubiri) has categorically enumerated the functions of his proposed EPA, including its independence from the DENR, and its head being appointed by the President. My only concern is for the President, should such agency be created, is to have it manned by an established Filipino scientist, knowledgeable of the agency’s functions, spared from political considerations.
Media can contribute immensely to protecting our environment, maintaining a balanced aquatic and terrestrial ecosystem and conserve its biodiversity of plants and animals, the country is known of! We, in science, can only do so much, e.g. conduct in-depth research to protect the environment This has to be a common and total commitment of every Filipino to zealously preserve and conserve the surroundings.
Thank you and hope we rally behind an already late step to create the country’s EPA. — Dr. PACIENTE A. CORDERO, JR., Marine Biologist and Conservationist Consultant on Science (R & D), Naval, Biliran Province