Only 6 bets bare ‘green’ stance

MANILA, Philippines—Only six senatorial candidates responded to a survey seeking their positions on the most pressing environmental issues, Greenpeace said on Saturday.

Greenpeace, along with EcoWaste Coalition and Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (Gaia), had sought the views and plans of the candidates on such concerns as solid waste, sustainable agriculture and climate change as part of the Green Electoral Inititative (GEI).

GEI is a project started by the environmental groups in 2007 aimed at engaging candidates and voters on environmental issues, and drawing out the green agenda of candidates.

But only six of the 33 candidates replied to the survey—Samson Alcantara, Sonny Angara, Teddy Casiño, Bal Falcone, Risa Hontiveros and Cynthia Villar, Greenpeace said.

“The dismal overall response to the survey is itself lamentable. This does not reflect well on the priorities of the country’s aspiring leaders,” said Von Hernandez, executive director of Greenpeace Southeast Asia.

Of those who responded, Angara, Casiño, Hontiveros and Villar provided “clear categorical answers” with concrete plans to pursue legislative solutions or proposals on specific issues, Greenpeace said.

While the four candidates support an increase in uptake of renewable energy, not everyone agreed to phase out dirty energy sources such as coal and waste-to-energy facilities. Only Casiño and Hontiveros clearly favored phasing out coal, Greenpeace said.

All four were also against the recommissioning of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant, it added.

All the respondents agreed that public access to pollution information was crucial in curbing pollution. “Angara, Hontiveros and Villar had very clear positions and plans to push for the elimination of hazardous chemicals in consumer products,” Greenpeace said.

On the issue of plastic bags, Angara, Hontiveros and Villar committed to pursue legislation that would regulate them on a national scale, it said.

All the candidates support the reduction of chemicals in agriculture as well as the promotion of ecological agriculture. While all committed to mandatory labelling of genetically engineered products and ingredients, only Angara, Casiño and Hontiveros agreed to a ban on field releases of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), Greenpeace said. DJ Yap