GOVERNMENT SUPPORT IN TREATMENT OF HAZARDOUS WASTE IN THE PHILIPPINES
GOVERNMENT SUPPORT IN TREATMENT OF HAZARDOUS WASTE IN THE PHILIPPINES
PHILIPPINE CHEMICAL AND HAZARDOUS WASTE
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PROGRAM (CHWEMP)
Juan Miguel Fuentes, Ninette Ramirez** and Enrique Linsangan***
*President, Environmental Practitioners Association
**Environmental Specialist, Environmental Practitioners Association
***Director for Operations, Bureau of Fire Protection – Department of Interior and Local Government
I. Introduction
The Chemical and Hazardous Waste Emergency Management Program (CHWEMP) was initiated and developed by the Environmental Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in response to the growing concern on and the urgent need to address the issues and problems related to the risks of chemicals and hazardous wastes to the environment. Since its inception in 2002, the Program has been subject of technical and financial assistance from the US Agency for International Development (USAID) through the US-Asia Environmental Partnership Program (US-AEP). There are more than 100,000 chemicals being used, manufactured, and imported in the Philippines. As of December 2004, DENR registered 3,801 hazardous wastes generators. Based on the submitted reports, the generators produce 226 million tonnes of hazardous wastes annually. The hazardous wastes are classified as plating wastes; acid wastes; alkali wastes; inorganic chemical wastes; reactive chemical wastes; paints, resins, lattices, inks, dyes, adhesives, and organic sludges; organic solvents; putrescibles and organic wastes; textile; oil; containers; immobilized wastes; organic chemicals; and miscellaneous wastes. Significant amounts of chemicals are increasingly being used and considerable volumes of hazardous wastes are generated in the country with the fast development and rapid industrialization in the Philippines. To cope, address, and respond to emergencies and incidents related to the use, storage, handling, and disposal of
PHILIPPINE CHEMICAL AND HAZARDOUS WASTE
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PROGRAM (CHWEMP)
Juan Miguel Fuentes, Ninette Ramirez** and Enrique Linsangan***
*President, Environmental Practitioners Association
**Environmental Specialist, Environmental Practitioners Association
***Director for Operations, Bureau of Fire Protection – Department of Interior and Local Government
I. Introduction
The Chemical and Hazardous Waste Emergency Management Program (CHWEMP) was initiated and developed by the Environmental Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in response to the growing concern on and the urgent need to address the issues and problems related to the risks of chemicals and hazardous wastes to the environment. Since its inception in 2002, the Program has been subject of technical and financial assistance from the US Agency for International Development (USAID) through the US-Asia Environmental Partnership Program (US-AEP). There are more than 100,000 chemicals being used, manufactured, and imported in the Philippines. As of December 2004, DENR registered 3,801 hazardous wastes generators. Based on the submitted reports, the generators produce 226 million tonnes of hazardous wastes annually. The hazardous wastes are classified as plating wastes; acid wastes; alkali wastes; inorganic chemical wastes; reactive chemical wastes; paints, resins, lattices, inks, dyes, adhesives, and organic sludges; organic solvents; putrescibles and organic wastes; textile; oil; containers; immobilized wastes; organic chemicals; and miscellaneous wastes. Significant amounts of chemicals are increasingly being used and considerable volumes of hazardous wastes are generated in the country with the fast development and rapid industrialization in the Philippines. To cope, address, and respond to emergencies and incidents related to the use, storage, handling, and disposal of