Bottom feeders

Years have passed since the enactment of environmental laws particularly RA9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act. The law is almost seven years old and yet its simple purpose has not yet been fully achieved. One basic purpose of RA9003 is the simple segregation of waste commonly generated in the household. Information campaigns and implementing guidelines have been set and yet the desired result is not visible. Looking into the surroundings will prove it. Litters indiscriminately thrown anywhere, despite the impending environmental issues, shows the lack of discipline of the people. In this kind of society, a bright future of nature is vague. Unknowingly, a group of people unnoticed are bringing hope to the future generation. They are the BOTTOM FEEDERS.
Bottom feeders are those, out of poverty, dig the dirt and profit from repugnant things. They are those seen along the streets digging every trash can for plastics, bottles or anything that can be sold in the junkshop or that can be reused. For them, it is their fate- to live in poverty, survive from garbage, be mocked as outcast and be treated as bete noire by fortunate ones. It is their means for survival. But behind those dirty clothes and stinky smell, the nature treasures them more that gold and silver. They are treasures of Mother Earth because they fulfill the responsibilities that the fortunate people cannot fulfill. They lessen the emission of methane gas and other greenhouse gases by saving those things that could have been burned in the dumpsites. They put those mess in their proper place and use. Unfortunate they may say, they are an important people in this kind of undisciplined society. What they do may just be little things but in the eyes of future generations it is a heroic act.

KILL JPEPA

For the first time, the Philippines would be entering into a bilateral agreement if the JPEPA would pass through the scrutiny of the Senate. In accordance with World Trade Organization (WTO) Pres. Arroyo and Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi signed the Japan- Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement or JPEPA. The agreement offers numerous benefits to economy and labor. It would generate job to thousands jobseekers, create livelihood to small businessmen, open opportunities to those engaged in industrial and agricultural business, invite more investors in the country , strengthen ties between the two nations and would build up business confidence of the Philippines. Interestingly, the tariff of the exporting and importing goods and services is eliminated by the agreement. Thus, making the trading convenient for both nations.

While the agreement is being studied and debated in the Senate, the people have staged rallies and speeches supporting and opposing the agreement. Certain groups like the Federation of Philippine Industries (FPI) and the League of Municipalities of the Phils. (LMP) have strongly expressed their support to the President. They cited that the agreement would benefit them and the Filipino nation as it will generate jobs and would open free trade of goods and services. On the other hand, environment groups strongly oppose the agreement basically on the environmental risk that the agreement poses.

In Art. 29 of the agreement, the products which are covered by the agreement includes, (a) articles collected in the Party which can no longer perform their original purpose in the Party nor are capable of being restored or repaired and which are fit only for disposal or for the recovery of parts or raw materials; (b) scrap and waste derived from manufacturing or processing operations or from consumption in the Party and fit only for disposal or for the recovery of raw materials; and (c) parts or raw materials recovered in the Party from articles which can no longer perform their original purpose nor are capable of being restored or repaired. These products, however they may be called by the agreement, are basically wastes. Maybe some would be recycled but definitely some will just end up in the dumping site adding to the mountainous garbage of the Filipinos.

This particular stipulation in the agreement is the very fear of those opposing the agreement particularly the environment sector. With the elimination of tariff and including these products in the agreement, hazardous and toxic wastes can enter freely and legally in the Philippine jurisdiction. Japan is known to be a great generator of hazardous wastes because of their manufacturing processes. It can be recalled that barrels of toxic wastes from Japan were left unattended in the Philippine port and no news was heard if the said waste was claimed by the responsible Japanese. Notably, when the Japanese embassy was asked on their stand on the environment impact of JPEPA they said that Japan would not export toxic wastes to any country UNLESS THE GOVERNMENT OF SUCH COUNTRY APPROVES SUCH EXPORT. From their statement, it can be drawn that the intention of exporting toxic waste is present and by the JPEPA alone it can be drawn that Philippine agrees to such export. When toxic wastes enter the Philippine jurisdiction, the Filipino health is in jeopardy.

With the issues raised by different groups, the Senate should carefully scrutinize the JPEPA or better yet kill the agreement. Economic gain should not compromise with the future of the country. What is money when people would helplessly die of toxicity? What is economic progress if nature would helplessly die of pollution?