Wanted: Clean Water Champions (Candidates for Midterm Elections Urged to Weigh In On the Protection of Water Sources from Waste and Pollution)
A waste and pollution watch group urged candidates and
parties for the 2019 midterm elections to enlighten the electorate about their
positions on raging water issues and the steps they will take if elected to
ensure people’s access to clean water.
Following the Congressional and Senate hearings on the
water shortage that tormented consumers in certain parts of Metro Manila and
Rizal, the EcoWaste Coalition stressed the importance of having legislative
champions who will take up the cudgels for water resources preservation and
protection.
The group’s plea for water champions coincided with the
observance of World Water Day on March 22, which focuses on Sustainable
Development Goal 6, which is to “ensure availability and sustainable management
of water and sanitation for all.”
“The campaign period offers an opportunity for aspiring
politicians for national and local elective posts to inform the voting public
about their platforms for clean water,” said Aileen Lucero, National Coordinator,
EcoWaste Coalition.
“Our water resources are threatened by plastic and
chemical pollution, rapid urbanization, declining forests, diminishing
watersheds, climate change and ever increasing demand for water,” she
said.
“Holistic policies and measures to deal with these
threats are urgently needed to turn the tide and guarantee access to adequate
and safe water of present and future generations,” she added.
As this year marks the 15th anniversary of Republic Act
9275, or the Clean Water Act, the EcoWaste Coalition appealed for greater
action to protect the country’s fragile water resources from further
degradation with focus on pollution prevention at source.
RA 9275, signed by former President Gloria Macapagal
Arroyo on March 22, 2004, applies to water quality management in all water
bodies, particularly on abatement and control of pollution from land based
sources.
“We hope candidates and parties will support the
strengthening of RA 9275 through the integration of a framework of zero discharge
of hazardous chemicals from factories, farms and households,” Lucero said.
The EcoWaste Coalition expressed its hope that candidates
and parties will weigh in on some of the raging water-related issues,
including, but not limited to the following :
--- Production of single-use plastics, especially as
packaging for fast-moving consumer goods, that end up polluting the rivers and
the world’s oceans;
--- Use of plastic microbeads as ingredient in cosmetic
and cleansing products that contribute to microplastic pollution in water and
marine life;
--- Discharge of
chemical pollutants and other wastes from industrial, agricultural, and
household sources into waterways and water bodies;
--- Shrinking
forests and watersheds due to deforestation, illegal logging, mining,
urbanization, and construction of large dams, etc.; and
--- Continued
operation of garbage dumpsites, especially in ecologically-sensitive areas,
including Manila Bay .
-end-
Reference:
https://www.worldwaterday.org/
http://www.lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra2004/ra_9275_2004.html
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