The Philippine Response

Basel Convention is an international treaty addressing cleaner production, hazardous waste minimization and controls on the movement of these wastes.

Ratified on October 21, 1993

Issued Department of Environment and Natural Resources Administrative Order 28, Series of 1994: The Interim Guidelines on the Importation of Recyclable Materials Containing Hazardous Substances 

Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer is an international agreement that controls the production and consumption of substances that can cause ozone depletion.

Environmental Management Bureau-Department of Environment and Natural Resources

Ratified on July 17, 1991.

Through the Philippine Environment Code (Presidential Decree No. 1152) the Philippines expressed its commitment to improve air quality.  It has set a goal to maintain levels of air quality in order to protect public health, to prevent to the greatest extent practicable, injury and/or damage to plant and animal life and property, and to promote social and economic development of the country.  It provided guidelines for the phase out of certain Ozone Depleting Substances.

Ratified on February 16, 2005.

The Philippines stands to benefit from the Clean Development Mechanism process under the Kyoto Protocol.  Opportunities for investments in renewable energy and other carbon dioxide reducing activities should be harnessed and promoted with private sector participation.  Clean Development Mechanism process enables investments at low cost through carbon trading, and enables the country to cut-back on both local and global air pollution.

Environmental Management Bureau-Department of Environment and Natural Resources and Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority-Department of  Agriculture

The prior informed consent procedure aims to promote shared responsibility between exporting and importing countries in protecting human health and the environment from the harmful effects of trade of certain hazardous chemicals.  It requires exporters trading in a list of hazardous substances to obtain the prior informed consent of importers before proceeding with the trade. It covers 22 pesticides and certain formulations of others, as well as 5 industrial chemicals.

The Philippines is presently working for the ratification of the Convention which is now being undertaken by the Department of Foreign Affairs, Office of Legal Affairs.