MESSAGE SECRETARY DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES PHILIPPINES
On behalf of the Philippine Government, I wish to join my ASEAN colleagues in congratulating Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen and the Government of Cambodia for the excellent preparation in the hosting of the launching of ASEAN Environment Year (AEY) 2003.
It is appropriate that this event is observed this year to enable us to revisit what has been achieved since the last ASEAN Environment Year 2000 and work towards the implementation of the Agreements during the Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable Development. This will allow us to reaffirm our commitments to the realization of sustainable development, especially in pursuit of the recently concluded ASEAN Agreement on Trans-boundary Haze Pollution.
Recognizing the adverse effects of trans-boundary haze pollution to human health, living resources and the ecosystem in the region, we are extending our full support to the ratification of the Agreement. Relatedly, I would like to offer to my ASEAN colleagues the sharing of information and technology for forest fire prevention and control and the use of market-based instruments to mitigate/prevent pollution.
Our commitment is further exemplified by our priority programs and activities which are in line with the principles of the Agreement, such as the implementation of the Clean Air Act and Solid Waste Management Act. The former will enable us to ensure cleaner emissions from our mobile sources, undertake more accurate and timely monitoring of air quality, and shift towards clean production practices and the use of alternative fuels such as natural gas and bio-diesel. The latter will enable us to establish materials recovery facilities and recycling, thereby avoiding open burning of refuse and replacement of open dumping by sanitary landfill.
In closing, I would like to wish the success of the ASEAN Environment Year 2003! Thank you and God Bless!
H.E. MRS. ELISEA G. GOZUN
Secretary, Department of Environment and Natural Resources
PHILIPPINES
