Electric Cooperatives and National Resources Development Corporation Sign Contract to Strengthen Collaboration in Safeguarding the Environment Against Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)
PCBs are dangerous contaminants that were useful industrial products in the past and they persist in both the environment and living organisms. The use of PCBs is commonly divided into closed and open applications. Examples of closed applications include coolants and insulating fluids (transformer oil) for transformers and capacitors.
According to the National Library of Medicine, exposure to PCBs suppresses the immune system, increasing the risk of acquiring several human diseases. PCB exposure, especially during early childhood, reduces IQ and alters behavior; it alters thyroid and reproductive function in both males and females as well as increases the risk of the development of cardiovascular and liver disease and diabetes.
The GEF/UNIDO/DENR project entitled “Implementation of PCB Management Programs for Electric Cooperatives and safe e waste Management” aims to dispose of 600 tons of PCB oil and PCB containing equipment from Rural Electric Cooperatives nationwide in the Non Combustion Facility in Bataan. The disposal of PCBs by the Electric Cooperatives is subsidized by the project.
As of January 2024, 29 Electric Cooperatives (ECs) have signed contracts with NRDC to dispose of their PCB oil and transformers containing PCBs.
During the event last January 25, 2024, a ceremonial signing of the contracts between Electronic Cooperatives and NRDC was witnessed by DENR and National Electrification Administration officials. One of the objectives of the ceremonial signing is to recognize these ECs as being part of the global efforts on the phase-out and environmentally sound disposal of PCBs. Out of the 29 Electric Cooperatives that have signed contracts with NRDC, 18 of them were present during the signing ceremony held last January 25, 2024, at SEDA Vertis North: Benguet Electric Cooperative (BENECO), Central Pangasinan Electric Cooperative (CENPELCO), Pangasinan I Electric Cooperative (PANELCO I), Quirino Electric Cooperative (QUIRELCO), Cagayan I Electric Cooperative (CAGELCO I), Isabela II Electric Cooperative (ISELCO II), Tarlac I Electric Cooperative (TARELCO I), Pampanga II Electric Cooperative (PELCO II), Tablas Island Electric Cooperative (TIELCO), Camarines Norte Electric Cooperative (CANORECO), Camarines Sur IV Electric Cooperative (CASURECO IV), Camarines Sur I Electric Cooperative (CASURECO I), Camarines Sur III Electric Cooperative (CASURECO III), Sorsogon II Electric Cooperative (SORECO II), Central Negros Electric Cooperative (CENECO), Guimaras Electric Cooperative (GUIMELCO), Leyte V Electric Cooperative (LEYECO V), and South Cotabato II Electric Cooperative (SOCOTECO II).
The DENR Officials present were DENR Undersecretary Ignatius Loyola Rodriguez, Undersecretary Jonas Leones, Undersecretary Analiza Teh, DENR-EMB Director Gilbert Gonzales, Assistant Director Esperanza Sajul, CAR Regional Director Jean Borromeo, DENR Foreign-Assisted and Special Projects Service Director Al Orolfo. From UNIDO, Mr. Teddy Monroy and Dr. Carmela Centeno attended the event. Meanwhile, NRDC was represented by Mr. Alex Linde. From NEA Engr. Ernesto Silvano Jr. Deputy Administrator for Technical Services, representing Administrator Antonio Almeda was present. And from the Ecowaste Coalition, Ms. Eileen Sison attended the program.
Welcoming the participants, Undersecretary Ignatius Loyola Rodriguez expressed his gratitude: “I am grateful for the participation of everyone present. Thank you for your unwavering support and commitment to environmental stewardship. I truly believe that our success depends on the continuous collaboration of all stakeholders. It is only through these kinds of collaboration that we can ensure that our environment remains a safe space for future generations and the ecosystems that sustain them.”
“The signing of these contracts between the electric cooperatives and the NRDC is crucial to the success of the PCB WEEE project and to the sustainable operations of the Non-Combustion POPs Facility in Bataan, which has stood there for more than a decade. This significant feat would not be possible without the passionate and firm commitment of all institutions present.” Mr. Teddy Monroy, Country Representative, UNIDO.
“We are aware that environmental protection in this case management of PCBs is not the sole role of the DENR, but should be a concerted effort amongst all stakeholders and other government entities.” Engr. Ernesto Silvano Jr, The National Electrification Administration.
As the chairperson of the Project Steering Committee overseeing the Safe PCB-WEEE Project DENR Undersecretary Jonas Leones said that “As the project will be ending this year, we enjoin the NRDC and the EMB Central and Regional Offices to urge more clients for the facility so that we could achieve the project deliverable of 600 tons.” Leones added.
Undersecretary Analiza Teh added how thankful she is for the participation of the ECs to the project and their signing contracts with NRDC: “I look forward to more contracts signed by the NRDC, not only with the Electric Cooperatives but also with other entities and non-ECs. This is also because I believe that an investment in the environment is an investment for our health. The investment in the environment is a step in the acceleration of climate change action”.
As part of the program, Dr. Carmela Centeno gave an overview of the global UNIDO Project on PCB. She emphasized the importance of government ownership of these projects which the Philippines has greatly exercised. This was followed by a short message from NEA Director Federico Villar, enjoining them to reach out and take the opportunity of the subsidy being provided by the project and dispose of more PCBs.
In his message, Ms. Allan Castañeda of TARELCO I shared his PCB story and narrated to the group his journey from 2013 until 2023. He bade the other ECs to help each other, especially when dealing with the permits and he hopes for the project to reach out to more ECs. He ended his message saying, “Persistence and patience truly pays off.”
Representing the ECs, General Manager Dennis Alag of TIELCO stated that:, “Our responsibility is to take care of the environment, especially us who reside in the islands. We are aware that we cannot contaminate our islands, which are classified as our last frontiers. Our advocacy in addition to power generation is environmental protection.” He also mentioned the reason that they decided to participate in the project is because they knew their obligation to the environment.
As a parting message, the National Electrification Administration (NEA) through the Deputy Administrator for Technical Services, Engr. Ernesto Silvano Jr., stated that: “The NEA has been fortunate to partner with UNIDO since 2017 under the Safe PCB & E-waste Project. The NEA is the agency mandated to implement a Rural Electrification Program for the country. There are at least 120 Electric Cooperatives nationwide, which aim to provide electrification to the different islands, municipalities and provinces in the country. We are aware that environmental protection, in this case management of PCBs, is not the sole role of the DENR but should be a concerted effort amongst all stakeholders and other government entities.”
Closing the event, EMB Assistant Director Esperanca Sajul emphasized the role of the EMB in fast tracking these commitments to the international conventions. “We can always recover our expenses but we cannot replace our health and the environment once they have been tainted with POPs like PCB.” Director Sajul shared.
The following day, the DENR Undersecretary Ignatius Loyola Rodriguez welcomed the electric cooperatives to the Non Combustion Facility in Bataan.
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