"Exposing people to Endosulfan is a crime" - HEAD

28 June 2008

"Exposing People to Endosulfan is a Crime" - HEAD

The delayed admission that the sunken Princess of the Stars was carrying 10,000 kilos of the highly lethal pesticide endosulfan has placed thousands of people directly in harms way. Somebody should be held criminally liable for this.

Health Alliance for Democracy (HEAD) today strongly condemned the belated announcement by government officials that the ship was carrying massive quantities of a highly poisonous substance, the condition of which remains unknown and could possibly be leaking already.

"Endosulfan is a highly toxic substance that should be banned and not only strictly regulated. If it can go through government inspectors despite its enormous amount, there is either an outright collusion or a gross negligence between Sulpicio, Del Monte Philippines, Inc. (as owners), and government maritime regulatory bodies." According to Dr. Geneve Rivera, HEAD secretary-general.

"All of these parties should be held criminally liable. They have not only unduly exposed rescuers and volunteers by their late admission but they have also placed entire communities at risk."

HEAD is worried that current investigations are all for show and that in the end, no one will be penalized or held accountable.

"The Arroyo government should act decsisively and resolutely, even if the axe falls on its own agencies. Sulpicio Lines has been involved in 3 previous sea disater that victimized thousands but it continues to operate." Said Dr. Rivera, "Now we might have a double tragedy: the sinking of a passenger ship and the possible massive exposure to endosulfan."

Under Philippine laws, endosulfan is prohibited from being used near aquatic ecosystems, mainly because it is also highly toxic to fish. It is therefore surprising that it is being transported by sea and near populated areas.

"Government regulatory bodies such as the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority, and even the Department of Health, should be aware of how these substances are used, transported, and stored because these are public health concerns." added Dr. Rivera.

Aside from acute poisoning, chronic exposure to endosulfan even in small amounts is just as dangerous and lethal.

"Endosulfan is an endocrine disruptor that has an adverse effect on growth, development, and reproduction. Women and children are especially vulnerable. It can also cause nervous system disorders as well as cancer."####

Nueva Vizcaya LGU withdraws support to Australian mining firm

Nueva Vizcaya LGU withdraws support to Australian mining firm
Bayan Muna hails Provincial Board for unprecedented decision in local govt history

BAYAN MUNA Rep. Teddy Casiño today hailed the provincial government of Nueva Vizcaya for “taking the another decisive step to protect its people and its fragile forests and watersheds” by voting to withdraw its support to the entry of Australian mining firm OceanaGold Philippines, Inc. in Barangay Didipio, Kasibu town.

“We congratulate Nueva Vizcaya Provincial Board led by Vice Governor Jose Gambito and Board Members Edu Balgos and Merlie Talingdan, proponents of the move to totally withdraw support and endorsement to OceanaGold to mine a significant part of Kasibu town. Board members Glenn Afan, Efren Quiben, Tony Dupiano, Evangeline Burton of the Sangguniang Kabataan Federation and Amado Mangaoang of the Liga ng Barangay Federation also deserve commendation as they have also sided with their constituents who value their biodiversity and their peaceful way of life. These local government officials, along with their good Gov. Luisa Cuaresma and Kasibu Mayor Romeo Tayaban are making history with this move,” Casiño said.

The militant solon added that “this is an unprecedented milestone in our country’s history of local governance. This should set a shining example to all other local governments under siege by arrogant and environmentally- destructive foreign large-scale mining companies.”

The Provincial Board passed the resolution on second reading with a vote of 7-4, with one abstention, and one absence. It shall take effect on passage of the motion on third reading later this month amid the ongoing impasse between the province and OceanaGold over payment of local taxes.

“This will teach OceanaGold and power-drunk officials of the national government agencies like Environment Sec. Lito Atienza a lesson. They should heed the oppposition of the local people – indigenous peoples, small scale miners and farmers included – and local authorities who will directly suffer the long-term damage from large-scale mining operations. We also hope that other local government units take this historical move of the Nueva Vizcaya provincial government into consideration,” Casiño said.

In support the LGU move, Bayan Muna also shared the view that OceanaGold, with the help of certain national government line agencies, committed various social, civil, human rights and environmental violations.

“The provincial board was right in its decision to defend the people of Nueva Vizcaya, this will also help us in the ongoing probe into the operations and the alleged dirty tricks, bribery and human rights violations of OceanaGold at the House of Representatives,” Casiño said.

Casiño is the author of House Resolution 594 that mandated the Congressional Committee on National Cultural Communities to probe OceanaGold’s entry into Nueva Vizcaya’s remaining forestlands and the critical watershed areas in the region. #