by Elizabeth Marcelo (The Philippine Star), 5 Jul 2021
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has won an international award for its policy against the use of lead and lead compounds.
In a virtual announcement on June 29, the Germany-based international body World Future Council (WFC) named the Philippines, through the DENR, among the five winners of the Future Policy Award 2021.
A total of 55 policies from 36 countries were nominated for the award. Only 12 were shortlisted by the WFC in May. The awardees were later narrowed down to five.
The Philippines is the first Southeast Asian country to receive the award.
“We cannot be any happier with this news. This is a landmark achievement of the DENR as we campaign for a lead-free country,” Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu said yesterday.
Cimatu said the award is an indication that the Philippines is on the right track in regulating, phasing out and banning chemicals that pose threats to human health and the environment.
The WFC recognized the DENR for its Administrative Order No. 2013-24 or the Chemical Control Order for Lead and Lead Compounds.
The order mandates the prohibition on the use of lead and lead compounds in the production of packaging for food and drink, fuel additives, water pipes, school supplies, cosmetics and paints.
The policy specifically ordered the phaseout of lead in architectural, decorative and household paints on Jan. 1, 2017. The use of lead in industrial paints was phased out on Jan. 1, 2020.
The DENR has also banned the production of paints as a pigment, drying agent or for some other uses with more than 90 parts per million, which is set as the threshold limit.
The Philippines is among the three recipients of the special award along with Sri Lanka and Colombia for their policies against highly hazardous pesticides and environmentally persistent pharmaceutical pollutants, respectively.
Winning the Gold Awards were Kyrgyzstan for its resolution on the approval of chemical hazard classification system and hazard information requirements, and Sweden for its phaseout lists for chemicals hazardous to the environment and human health.
Environmental watchdog EcoWaste Coalition has lauded the efforts of the Philippine government, private stakeholders and civil organizations in the successful implementation of the policy.
Dubbed the “Oscar on best policies,” the Future Policy Award is the only international-level award that recognizes legislation and policies that benefit the current and future generations.
The five winning policies will be recognized during an online awarding rites at 10 p.m. tomorrow.
March –
IT’S WOMEN’S MONTH!
“Respect and support women
every day of the year/s!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the recommendations of the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry
against serious violations of protocols of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association.
Accept the National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar. Reject Military!
#WearMask #WashHands
#Report Corruption #SearchPosts #TakePicturesVideos
Monthly Observances:
Women’s Role in History Month
Weekly Observances:
Week 1: Environmental Week;
Women’s Week
Week 3: Philippine Industry and “
Made-in-the-Philippines Products Week
Last Week: Protection and Gender-Fair Treatment
of the Girl Child Week
Daily Observances:
March 8: Women’s Rights and
International Peace Day;
National Women’s Day
March 4: Employee Appreciation Day
March 15: World Consumer Rights Day
March 18: Global Recycling Day
March 21: International Day for the Elimination
of Racial Discrimination
March 23: International Day for the Right to the Truth
Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations
and for the Dignity of Victims
March 25: International Day of Remembrance of the
Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade
March 27: Earth Hour
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
