Press Release
August 5, 2008

Transcript of interview with Senator Pia S. Cayetano
Briefing on the status of implementation of the Clean Air Act, other issues

PIMRO

On the Oversight Committee's Public Hearing on the Clean Air Act

Background: The Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) claimed in the hearing that air quality in Metro Manila is getting less polluted. It reported that their monitoring of Total Suspended Particulates (TSP) showed a "significant" 33% improvement from 144 ug/Ncm in 2003 to 97 ug/Ncm in 2007 (although this figure is still above the ideal level of 90 ug/Ncm).

SPSC: Kahit na yung statistics ng EMB ay nagsasabing bumaba na raw ang level ng particulates sa ating hangin, hindi naman natin nararamdaman 'yun at nafee-feel pa rin natin ang usok sa hangin, meron pa ring pollution. Yung sinasabing pagbaba ng air pollution ay napakaliit lang at hindi pa natin nararamdaman talaga. One of the main reasons for that is the fact na hindi pinopondohan ang batas. I want to bring this to the awareness of the DBM and DOF, kasi klaro dito sa ating Clear Air Act section 14, which refers to the Air Quality Management Fund, na yung proceeds mula sa licensing fees at penalties mula sa nahuhuli sa smoke belching ay dapat napupunta rito sa Air Quality Management Fund at binibigay sa DENR so that they can buy better equipment and conduct testing. They need to use this fund, pero hindi ito nire-release ng DBM. Right now, there's already P197 million na hindi nire-release since the Clean Air Act was enacted nine years ago.

When our administration speaks of a better environment, you have to put your money where your mouth is. Kailangan lagyan ng pondo ito, ang this fund is already provided by law. So if it's not being put here, where is it being put? Ganito lang kasimple 'yung panawagan namin. In fact, the next hearing that the oversight committee will ask DBM and DOF to explain why these projects are not being funded.

Q: Yung P197 million that's for...

SPSC: That's for the Air Quality Management Fund. Naipundar na dapat nila iyon since 1999 when the law was passed. It's not a lot, but by now, that's still a significant amount. Sabi nga namin, this is not supposed to be discretionary becuase the release of funds is mandated by law. It should be released, especially since the government acknowledges that the environment is a priority.

On the picture-based health warning bill

SPSC: The committee on health has sponsored the bill before we adjourned, last June, and I am defending it this week, so we are hoping for the support of our colleagues. Napakalaking bagay nito, deterrent ito sa mga kabataan para huwag nang manigarilyo kapag nakita nila yung mga nakakadiri at nakakatakot na picture sa kaha ng sigarilyo. Alam natin na maraming resistance sa Lower House, but we are hoping na dito sa Senate ay maraming suporta na makuha. Marami tayong colleagues na nagpakita na ng suporta. No less than the Senate President has asked to be a co-sponsor and the Minority Floor Leader has been very supportive.

Q: But some of your colleagues smoke in public...

SPSC: That's what I told them: wala kayong karapatan na hindi suportahan ang bill na ito. Smokers who want to kill themselves can kill themselves, but don't kill the person next to you. For smoking does not only affect the smoker, but the people around them.

Q: In enclosed places bawal po di ba?

SPSC: In all enclosed spaces, bawal, pero isa rin iyon sa mga amendment na ginawa ko sa batas na ito kasi maraming tao ang may misconception na kailangan ng municipal ordinance para maging "smoking-free" ang isang lugar. Mabuti rin ang may ordinance pero this is a national law. No smoking in enclosed spaces should apply to the whole country. So dito sa bill na ito ang pina-aamend ko is for signages to be put up in all enclosed places absolutely prohibiting smoking in the premises. And this could be tied to the registration ng business permit, so kung wala kang signage na ganun, hindi ka pwede bigyan ng permit. Para umangat ang awareness ng tao na bawal manigarilyo sa enclosed places.

On Supreme Court's TRO on GRP-MILF MOA

SPSC: Masaya ako sa TRO na na-issue ng SC kasi this whole deal has been shrouded in secrecy and it is just consistent with how the Arroyo government has been doing things. No less than the Minority Floor Leader, who is from Mindanao, was not given details of this. Lalo na kami. Even though in the future makukuha namin ito, imagine the embarrassment that it had to take the Supreme Court na itigil iyan, kung kailan meron na silang arrangement with Malaysia [where the signing will be held]. Sana this would serve as a warning to the Arroyo administration to be more careful when they are crafting very important, far-reaching documents and agreements.

Q: Pero ma'am sabi po (inaudible), quoting Jaafar, saying na yung MOA signing ay ceremonial na lang.

SPSC: How can we even begin to comment when we don't even know the details? But off hand, something of such significance which would alter land rights, would require Congress' approval, it may violate constitutional provisions...so all of these things should not have happened with that kind of secrecy. It shows such bad taste. From the start open book sana yan.

On JPEPA

Q: Sabi po ni Sen, Santiago, she will sponsor JPEPA tomorrow, do you have any comments?

SPSC: My stand has been the same, my stand in JPEPA has not changed. I'm still gravely concerned about the ill-effects of JPEPA. I recognize that Japan will do what it has to safeguard its needs, so it is up to the Philippine negotiating panel to safeguard our interest. That was supposed to be the task of the Department of Trade. The Senate is supposed to concur if it believes that the needs of Filipinos have been aptly protected. I don't believe they were aptly protected. I believe that the terms could have been improved based on similar terms granted to neighboring countries. Therefore I am not ready to support JPEPA, as it is, not to mention the constitutional flaws that have been pointed out by constitutional experts.

On CHACHA

Q: May balita po na may niluluto na namang Cha-cha through people's initiative si GMA at yung mga local officials...

SPSC: I would like to think that the President has already accepted that 2010 is just around the corner and that Filipinos are eagerly looking forward to the next presidency.

Q: Sa tingin ninyo, kung mag-attempt sila, magtatagumpay?

SPSC: Hindi talaga. Galit na yung mga tao sa ganyan, I dont think the people will tolerate any attempt to prolong the Pesident's hold on power.

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