Perlas wants Conservation Award to GMA reconsidered

MANILA, Philippines - Independent presidential aspirant Nicanor “Nick” Perlas yesterday urged the International Conservation Caucus Foundation (ICCF) to reconsider its decision to award the prestigious Teddy Roosevelt International Conservation Award to President Arroyo, saying she does not deserve it.

“The ICCF’s reputation is in peril. The award is given to those who have implemented conservation projects that safeguard biodiversity, protect habitats, and provide social benefits for communities and Mrs. Arroyo did not do these,” said Perlas, a noted environmentalist.

He said the President is not deserving at all, given her administration’s dismal record in environmental protection and conservation.

“We are appalled by the ICCF’s insensitivity to the extent of environmental desecration in the Philippines under Mrs. Arroyo’s regime,” said Perlas.

He said under her regime, there were increased levels of lead, water, air, chemical and waste pollution that ranked Metro Manila as the fourth most polluted city in the world, according to a World Health Organization (WHO) study.

Perlas also noted there was an inadequate disaster response program to cushion the effects of global warming, socially disruptive and environmentally unsound policies and failure to fully implement the Clean Air Act of 1999, the Clean Water Act of 2004, Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 and the Renewable Energy Act of 2008.   – With Michael Punongbayan