Solons urge VFA junking, cite Subic toxic dumping

MANILA, Philippines - Two lady party-list representatives on Tuesday filed a joint resolution at the House of Representatives, proposing the termination of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) in connection with the reported dumping of toxic wastes in subic Bay last month.

In filing House Resolution 2886, Gabriela party-list Representatives Emmi de Jesus and Luzviminda Ilagan said it is about time for the Philippine government to review the treaty with the United States, saying "the agreement seems to serve the interest of only one side."

De Jesus said it is alarming that the Glenn Defense Marine Asia, a Malaysian contractor which reportedly dumped wastes in Subic Bay, invoked provisions in the VFA as an argument to elude responsibility on their illegal act.

The Malaysian contractor reportedly argued that the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has no jurisdiction over the matter pursuant to the VFA since the vessels involved are not commercial, but primarily for the service and benefit of the US military.

De Jesus said the VFA between the Philippines and the US allows the unlimited entry of US vessels and nuclear warships in the country to service joint military exercises. Consequently, this allows Glenn Defense Marine Asia to collect and dispose toxic wastes into Philippine seas.

The SBMA has started its own investigation on the Malaysian contractor allegedly hauling and dumping liquid toxic waste that are "beyond permissible limits" in Subic Bay.

Ilagan said the test result of the water samples conducted by Subic Water and Sewerage Co. is quite alarming since it showed that the level of toxicity of the liquid wastes went beyond normal levels set by international marine pollution conventions.

Ilagan said reports made by the SBMA showed that Mt Glenn Guardian, docked at Alava Pier in Subic Bay, was carrying some 189,500 liters of domestic waste and about 760 liters of bilge water, a combination of water, oil and grease, all of which were hauled from US Navy ship Emory Land.

Ilagan said the toxic waste was allegedly dumped by Mt Glenn Guardian in West Philippine Sea, 35 kilometer from Subic Bay, without the appropriate permit and clearance.

Charo Simons, spokesperson of Subic Bay Freeport Chamber of Health and Environment conservation, said that the waste dumping endangered not only the environment but also the lives of the people living in and around the Subic Bay area.