Senator Leila de Lima is seeking a legislative inquiry on the reported disposal of human waste in the West Philippines Sea.
De Lima disclosed on Saturday, July 17, that she filed Senate Resolution (SR) No. 778 which calls on the Senate to determine the extent of the damage caused by the alleged waste-dumping in the Philippines' territory and the actions available to the government “to protect our marine resources within our territorial waters and Exclusive Economic Zone.”
“Uncontrolled waste-dumping not only will damage our marine resources, but will also endanger our food security by destroying the breeding grounds of aquatic species in the areas affected” she said in the resolution.
“This unregulated dumping of waste in our waters constitutes a direct affront to our sovereignty and an attack on our territory. If our government fails or refuses to act, it will prejudice the interests of our country, now and for future generations,” she added.
In the resolution she filed last July 15, De Lima cited the report of United States-based technology Simularity about the vessels that have been dumping raw sewage and wastewater in the South China Sea, including the Kalayaan Group of Islands, which is part of the WPS.
The firm, showing satellite images, warned about the damaged caused by the activity to the reefs.
After reports attributed the ships to China, Simularity clarified that it was not pertaining to a certain nation, welcoming a separate investigation by the Philippine government as some officials called the report untrue.
“Imbes na magkaroon ng mabilisang imbestigasyon, mas kinilingan pa ng gobyernong ito ang pagsasabing peke ang balitang ito (Instead of immediately launching an investigation, this government even took side and called this report fake)," the opposition senator said in her statement.
"Kung sabagay, mahirap talagang mapaniwala ang matagal nang nagbubulag-bulagan o nangungunsinte pa sa pang-aabuso’t pambabalasubas ng Tsina sa ating sariling karagatan (In all fairness, it's hard to convince those who have been blind or those who have been tolerating China's abuse and disrespect of our territory),” she added.
De Lima, who chairs the Senate Committee on Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development, underscored the need “to review existing laws to cover vessels that stay for extended periods of time in waters over which our country exercises sovereign rights.”