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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Antiporda gives tough response to environmental group that plans to sue over NSWMC 'failure'

Antiporda gives tough response to environmental group that plans to sue over NSWMC 'failure'

Published Jun 28, 2021 12:13 pm

Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Undersecretary Benny Antiporda gave a tough response Monday, June 28 to an environmental group's threats to sue the National Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC) over its slow action on the implementation of a key law against plastic pollution.

DENR Undersecretary Benny Antiporda (Photo from Undersecretary Antiporda's office)

"We welcome this notice to sue of the said organization because this will serve as a motivation to all government officers and people who are really serious on solving the solid waste problem in the country especially when it deals with single-use plastic," Antiporda, NSWMC alternate chairman, said in virtual press conference.

"Now, let me just me remind you na be sure na yung demanda niyo ay tama pong demanda laban sa gobyerno (be sure that you file the right case against the government).

"But if in case na magkaroon po ng kakaibang aksyon yan para lang sirain ang magandang pangalan ng ating bansa (But if in case that action is just meant to ruin the good name of the country), we will have no choice but to also make our legal move against this organization," he said.

It was reported Sunday that notices had been sent to the NSWMC through the agency secretaries that serve as its members.

Marine conservation group Oceana, citizens, and other stakeholders said this was their "prelude to legal action" to press the commission and other concerned government agencies "to do their job" and implement Republic Act (RA) 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.

“We can no longer bear the inaction of the NSWMC which has failed to implement its mandated task to prepare a list of non-environmentally acceptable products and packaging (NEAP). Their lack of concern for 20 long years is far too deplorable and inexcusable. The groups believe it was time to interpose and take the necessary action on this issue," Oceana Vice President Gloria Estenzo Ramos said in a statement.

The NEAP is considered the soul of the two decade-old RA 9003. Antiporda didn't mention Oceana by name during the presser.

"There is a notice to sue coming from an organization saying that they will be filing a case against the NSWMC dahil po sa kakulangan po ng ating aksyon sa pagpapalabas ng NEAP (because of its lack of action in releasing the NEAP)," the DENR official said.

Antiporda had earlier acknowledged the delay in the banning of items under NEAP, which are currently limited to plastic straws and stirrers.

He said the NEAP resolution that mentions the items must have the majority of the signatures of the secretaries for it to be implementable. The NSWMC came up with this resolution last February.

"The commission came up with a list already, hinihintay na lang po yung mga prima ng ating mga kalihim na miyembro ng NSWMC (we're just waiting for the signatures of the secretaries who are members of the NSWMC)."

He said there are currently three signatures on the resolution--one from DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu, one from Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez, and another from the non-government organization sector.

"Yung mga ibang secretary iniisa-isa napo. Ang nangyayari po kasi we have this pandemic, kung kaya we try to make it sure na hand-carried na po itong resolution ng NSWMC to make it sure na ma-fast track po ito (We dealing with the other secretaries individually. What's happening is we have this pandemic, we try to make sure that it is fast-tracked by hand-carrying the NSWMC to them)," Antiporda explained.

Other agencies that are involved with the NSWMC include the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Health (DOH), and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).

Related Tags

neap 62821 Oceana benny antiporda DENR NSWMC Single-use plastic
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