Press Statement of Senator Loren Legarda

ON THE ENVIRONMENT

Findings by scientists that some coastal areas in Semirara Island have been highly contaminated by mercury from coal mining operations in the area points to the need for our government to be continually on the alert in protecting our environment against pollution.

While I admit that the mining industry is important to our economic development and the employment hundreds of thousands of workers, its operations must be fully regulated and supervised so as not to endanger the livelihood and health of adjacent communities.

We are reminded of the ecological disasters caused in Rapu-Rapu island off Sorsogon just years ago and the death of the Boac river in Marinduque in 1996 because of the Marcopper mining operations.

Thousands of families were dislocated and suffered loss of livelihood because of pollution from mining. I ask the government agencies concerned to tighten their supervision of mining areas to prevent similar disasters.

ON THE FLU PANDEMIC

The A(H1N1) pandemic declared by the World Health Organization and its spread even to small communities in our country should alert us that there is a health emergency situation in our country.

Now is the time for local government units - from the provincial down to the municipal and barangay levels - to be involved in containing the pandemic. Latest figures indicate that the Philippines is the country in Southeast Asia most afflicted by the disease.

The national government, through the Department of Health, should supply the endangered municipalities and communities with enough anti-flu vaccines and medicines to fight the disease. In the cities and towns, the schools and other crowded places should be watched for any sign of flu.

Nothing is more important than health.