[CPEO-MEF] Philippines clarification

[Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@cpeo.org>]

Nov 17, 2000
Filipino/American Coalition for Environmental Solutions
CLARIFICATION: NO SPECIFIC ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN REGARDING TOXIC WASTE
ISSUE

   Contrary to recent news releases ("US to investigate toxic waste
claims" ABS-CBN, November 16), the US will not be sending over a
delegation to the Philippines to specifically address the environmental
contamination problem in the former US military bases at Clark and
Subic. According to the ABS-CBN release, "Secretary Domingo Siazon, Jr.
of the Foreign Affairs Domingo Siazon said Thursday United States
Secretary of State Madeleine Albright promised to send a team to the
country to talk about the removal of toxic wastes in areas where its
military bases once stood." This was after the two secretaries met
during the APEC meeting in Brunei.

   According to US officials, any delegations sent over to the
Philippines would be under a more broad initiative as defined by the
Joint Statement on a Framework for Bilateral Cooperation in the
Environment and Public Health, signed last July during Pres. Estrada's
visit. The joint statement provides for the enhancement of "the
Philippines' institutional and technical capacity to address
environmental and public health problems throughout the Philippines."
Although RP and US non-governmental organizations pushed for the
inclusion of specific language that addressed the toxic waste issue,
none was included in the final statement. Efforts resulting from
bilateral initiatives will cover a number of environmental issues which
may include, but not be limited to, the toxic waste issue.

   FACES notes that US officials have made similar promises at past APEC
meetings that have resulted in no action.  Such precedence underscores
the need for constant vigilance and pressure to keep the issue alive and
at the forefront. Up until now, there have been no official reports of
any US government initiatives to address the contamination problem, nor
the growing number of toxic waste victims surrounding the former US
military bases.

   For more information, please contact Christina Leano at (202)
544-6564 ext 5 

-- 


Lenny Siegel
Director, Center for Public Environmental Oversight
c/o PSC, 222B View St., Mountain View, CA 94041
Voice: 650/961-8918 or 650/969-1545
Fax: 650/968-1126
lsiegel@cpeo.org
http://www.cpeo.org


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