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SEN. Mar Roxas questioned Wednesday why the
Fertilizer and Pesticides Authority (FPA) has classified endosulfan
only as restricted when 17 countries banned this pesticide because
of its high toxicity level.
Roxas noted the statement of Dr.
Dario Sabularse, deputy executive director of the pesticide
authority, that endosulfan is a restricted pesticide and as such, is
supposed to be transported in cargo vessels, not in passenger
vessels. It is so toxic that doses as low as 35 mg. per kilogram of
liquid could cause death in humans when ingested.
Aside from its toxicity,
endosulfan’s potential for bioaccumulation and environmental
contamination has impelled a move for the global ban of its use and
production.
Some 10 tons of endosulfan were
in the wreckage of MV Princess of the Stars, prompting the
Philippine Coast Guard to suspend its recovery and retrieval
operations.
Sen. Pia Cayetano, chairman of
the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, said that
the Philippines had previously banned endosulfan but this was later
lifted by FPA and classified it as merely restricted “for still
unclear reasons.”
Roxas said the problem is that
the law does not make any distinction in the kind of vessel allowed
to transport restricted pesticides registered with the pesticide
authority, thus causing confusion.
He also noted that endosulfan was
transported by the Princess of the Stars that had no protective and
indemnity insurance that could answer for damages that the ship
might cause to the environment.
He wondered why the Princess of
the Stars owned by Sulpicio Lines was allowed to operate without
this kind of insurance when it is required by the Maritime Industry
Authority (Marina).
“Given the dismal record of
tragedies associated with Sulpicio Lines, Marina should have
exercised its authority to demand a more comprehensive insurance
plan from the said company,” Roxas said.
He called for an inquiry to
determine the needed reforms to the maritime industry, to strengthen
safety regulations, especially in the transporting of highly toxic
chemicals.
--Efren L. Danao
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