RP-US talks on programs for former bases begin

The Philippines and the United States have opened talks on possible joint health and environmental programs for former US military bases reportedly contaminated with toxic wastes.

Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary for American Affairs Clemencio Montesa described last Wednesday's meeting with US officials as a "meaningful breakthrough" in the Estrada administration's efforts to find a solution to the toxic waste problem at the former Clark Air Base in Pampanga and Subic Naval Base in Zambales.

Upon instructions from US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, American Ambassador to Manila Thomas Hubbard designated Deputy Chief of Mission Michael Malinowski, Second Secretary on Environment and Science and Technology Lauren Catipon and US Agency for International Development's environmental affairs chief Michael Yates as Washington's representatives to the meeting.

Other Philippine officials to the meeting were Assistant Director Arlene Magno and American Affairs Office Director Bayani Mercado.

In a letter to Foreign Secretary Domingo Siazon Jr., Albright said while her government never agreed to the creation of the bilateral task force to address the toxic problem in the two areas, she added they were "not insensitive to the concerns arising from allegations of serious public health and/or environmental problems."

She said that Washington was not under any legal obligations to address the toxic waste contamination.

She said the Philippine-US Military Bases Agreement "imposed no obligation" on the US to return the former military bases "to their original condition and to remediate any environmental damage."

Instead, the accord required the US to leave to the Philippines all fixed improvements when the US would turn over the facilities, which she said the US did.