Philippines to phase out last ozone depleting substances

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines is focused on phasing out the supposed last batch of ozone-depleting substances (ODS) – the hydrochlorofluorocarbons or HCFCs – ahead of the 27-year schedule from 2013 to 2040.

“The country has made good with its implementation and has complied with the 10 percent import reduction since 2015, a target set to be achieved up to year 2019,” Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu said.

Cimatu said the Philippines has always been in full compliance with the Montreal Protocol since it ratified in 1991 the global agreement to protect the ozone layer from ODS.

He said the “Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer” is considered one of the most successful multilateral environmental agreements in history because it enjoys the full support and cooperation of countries like the Philippines.

“The Montreal Protocol has 197 state signatories, and I can say that the protocol owes its success to countries like the Philippines, which for three decades has been consistently cooperative and compliant to the targets and schedules it set to phase out ODS around the world,” Cimatu said in his speech during the annual Technical Forum on the Promotion of Alternative Substances and Natural Refrigerants for Ozone Layer and Climate Protection recently held in Quezon City.

In 1987, the Philippines joined the rest of the world in adopting the landmark global agreement to protect the ozone layer by stopping the production and consumption of ODS. Four years later, the country successfully completed ratification of the Montreal Protocol.

Cimatu said that from 1991 to 2010, the country fulfilled its commitment to phase out the first batch of ODS in the manufacturing and servicing sectors.

In 1996, the Philippines phased out carbon tetrachloride or CTC and methyl chloroform. After three years, it ended the production and consumption of halon, a chemical compound formerly used in firefighting.

Also in 1999, the country phased out chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) variants – CFC-13, CFC-114, CFC-115 – used in various industries as refrigerant, propellant, solvent and cleaning agent.

Appliances such as refrigerators and air-conditioners using CFC-11 were totally banned in 2005. Non-quarantine pre-shipment methyl bromide was phased out in 2009, while cars with air-conditioners using CFC-12 were no longer registered starting January 2010.