FOREWORD the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic

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FOREWORD the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic FINAL - NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN FOR STOCKHOLM CONVENTION ON POPS FOREWORD The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) marks the global commitment to protect human health and the environment from POPs. Considered as another milestone in combating the adverse impacts of organic pollutants, the Convention calls for government commitment to take measures to eliminate or reduce the releases of these chemicals into the environment. Nations are obliged to establish national mechanisms to formulate and implement their own blueprint of actions for a sustainable healthy environment. The Philippines takes pride in being a champion of protecting the environmental and human health. We proudly embrace and humbly accept the Convention’s challenges. We commit ourselves to the Conventions requirements not because we were asked to BUT because of our firm belief and commitment to always prioritize the welfare of our citizen. The Philippine government officially declared its commitment to the Convention when it ratified the convention in 2004. One of our foremost obligations, as a Party, is to develop a National Implementation Plan on Persistent Organic Pollutants (NIP). As the nation’s stalwart leader for environmental protection, I am proud to share with you our blueprint for reducing if not eliminating the releases of POPs into the environment. This document imbues the spirit of solidarity, convergence of keen minds, and the passion to always protect human health and the environment. A result of collaborative efforts among various government and non-government agencies, the NIP came to be a comprehensive document addressing multi-faceted issues relevant to POPs. It was created such that its activities are aligned with the National Government’s short- and medium-term plans, hence could serve as roadmap for future national undertakings pertaining to POPs and other chemicals of similar characteristics. The NIP is our framework – addressing core issues in policy deployment for chemicals management in general and POPs in particular; and providing short-term actions to build our capability to formulate, enforce, and monitor effective systems in protecting the health and the environment. It tackles the interlinked economic, demographic, environmental, scientific and technological, cultural, and political challenges faced by our country in enforcing our environmental rules and regulations. Unquestionably, the tasks are daunting. BUT with the fierce commitment from all stakeholders, I believe we CAN do this. Again, not because the Convention ask for it BUT because we believe in protecting our children’s future. The ratification of the Convention signals for the commencement of our commitment… while this National Implementation Plan embodies our intent in pursuing an environment worthy of our children. ANGELO T. REYES Secretary Department of Environment and Natural Resources FINAL - NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN FOR STOCKHOLM CONVENTION ON POPS TABLE OF CONTENTS Section Page FOREWORD EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ..................................................................................................................ES-1 CHAPTER 1.0 INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................1 1.1 PURPOSE OF THE NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION...........................................................2 1.2 SUMMARY OF THE CONVENTION.......................................................................................3 1.3 METHODOLOGY IN DRAFTING THE NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION .........................4 1.4 SUMMARY OF ISSUES ON POPS ...........................................................................................5 1.5 STRUCTURE OF THE NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN..........................................6 CHAPTER 2.0 COUNTRY BASELINE..............................................................................................1 2.1 COUNTRY PROFILE.................................................................................................................2 2.1.1 Geography and Population.................................................................................................2 2.1.2 Political and Economic Profile ..........................................................................................3 2.1.3 Profiles of Economic Sectors.............................................................................................9 2.1.4 Environmental Overview...................................................................................................10 2.2 INSTITUTIONAL, POLICY AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK ......................................16 2.2.1 Environmental Policy, Sustainable Development Policy and General Legislative Framework .........................................................................................................................16 2.2.2 Description of Existing Legislation and Regulations Addressing POPs (Manufactured Chemicals and Unintentionally Produced POPs)...............................................................17 2.2.3 Roles and Responsibilities of Ministries, Agencies, and Other Governmental Institutions Involved in POPs Life Cycles (from Source to Disposal, Environmental Fate, and Health Monitoring) ........................................................................................................................19 2.2.4 Relevant International Commitments and Obligations......................................................20 2.3 ASSESSMENT OF THE POPS ISSUE IN THE PHILIPPINES ................................................24 2.3.1 Assessment with Respect to Annex A, Part I Chemicals (POPs Pesticides) .....................24 2.3.2 Assessment with Respect to Annex B Chemicals (DDT)..................................................28 2.3.3 Assessment with Respect to Annex A, Part II Chemicals (PCBs).....................................29 2.3.4 Assessment of Releases from Unintentional Production of Annex C Chemicals (PCDD/PCDF, HCB and PCBs) ........................................................................................32 2.3.5 Information on the State of Knowledge on Stockpiles and Contaminated Sites ...............35 2.3.6 Summary of Future Production, Use and Releases of POPs (Requirements for Exemptions) .........................................................................................37 2.3.7 Existing Programs for Monitoring Releases and Environmental and Human Health Impacts.......................................................................................................38 2.3.8 Knowledge and Awareness Level......................................................................................40 i FINAL - NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN FOR STOCKHOLM CONVENTION ON POPS 2.3.9 Overview of Technical Infrastructure for Persistent Organic Pollutants ...........................44 2.3.10 Activities of Non-Government Organization....................................................................46 2.3.11 Socio-Economic Assessment ............................................................................................49 2.3.12 System for Managing Chemicals ......................................................................................52 CHAPTER 3.0 STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN ELEMENTS OF THE NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.................................................................................................................1 3.1 POLICY STATEMENT ..............................................................................................................2 3.2 IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY............................................................................................3 3.3 ACTIVITIES, STRATEGIES AND ACTION PLANS ..............................................................4 3.3.1 Action Plan Addressing Annex A, Part I Chemicals (POPs Pesticides)............................6 3.3.2 Action Plan Addressing Annex A, Part II Chemicals (PCBs) ...........................................10 3.3.3 Measures to Reduce Releases from Unintentional Production (Article 5) ........................16 3.3.4 Action Plan to Identify Contaminated Sites (Annex A, B, and C Chemicals)...................22 3.3.5 Action Plan for Public Awareness, Information and Education (Articles 10) ...................25 3.4 DEVELOPMENT AND CAPACITY BUILDING PROPOSALS AND PRIORITIES .............30 3.5 DETAILED ACTION PLANS, TIMELINES, RESOURCE REQUIREMENTS AND PERFORMANCE MEASURES..................................................................................................31 3.6 RESOURCE REQUIREMENTS AND 5-YEAR FINANCIAL PLAN ......................................58 3.7 SOCIO-ECONOMIC EVALUATION........................................................................................84 3.7.1 Rationale ............................................................................................................................84 3.7.2 Conceptual Framework......................................................................................................84 3.7.3 Economic Cost of POPs Phase-Out ...................................................................................85 3.7.4 Economic Cost of POP Pesticide Phase-Out .....................................................................85 3.7.5 Economic Cost of PCBs Phase-Out...................................................................................86 3.7.6 Economic Cost of Reducing or Eliminating Releases of Dioxins/Furans .........................86 3.7.7
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