Dumping on us, again

‘We have to have better negotiations regarding visiting forces agreements to make sure we don’t always get the short end of the stick.’
I SHAKE my head again in disgust over the recent allegations against Glenn Defense Marine (GDM) for dumping toxic waste into Subic Bay.
Of course, one is innocent unless proven guilty but there are too many reasons and circumstances surrounding the issue that point to the laxity of measures by GDM to protect the waters that it uses to conduct business.
The allegations are quite alarming and should concern all of us as we strive to protect whatever natural treasures are left after foreign and domestic pillage.
Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago filed a resolution to conduct an investigation to verify, among others, to wit that the dumping of toxic liquid waste 20 nautical miles off Subic Bay has been the “usual practice” of Glenn Marines Asia; that the company’s Certificate of Registration as a Freeport Registered Company is Subic Bay has no provisions for waste dumping; that MT Glenn Guardian, and another vessel, MT Glenn Enterprise has expired permits; and that the company never applied for a permit to dump toxic wastes in the open sea.
The resolution also mentioned that “the company also reportedly has a pending case before the Department of Environment and Natural Resources over the illegal dumping of liquid waste a few miles from Manila Bay.”
Glenn Defense Marine immediately issued a press statement professing that “we love the environment, too.”
In the statement GDF denies that it will ever dump “toxic and other chemical wastes into the sea because we know this will damage our business that thrives on seas.”
Moreover, the company “welcomes full-dressed investigations into the allegations that our ship dumped into the Subic Bay the wastes we collected from US naval ship USS Emory S. Land during the recent Visiting Forces Agreement exercise in the Philippines.”
Well, that’s what I hope to happen. Even though skeptics will say that nothing concrete ever comes from Senate investigations, at least I want to know if we’re being scr***d so we can go on to better forms of protests.
What I am not too happy about their statement is that they have already provided excuses if in fact the seas surrounding their operations are filled with toxic material.
“We are very much confident we will come out clean even in the most assiduous investigation. And if ever it will prove that toxic waste were indeed dumped, it cannot come from us.”
Well, they never assured or assuaged the fears of many regarding the other allegations as previously stated. It was like one whole motherhood statement.
I just hope that this is another eye-opener for our administration and those following it. We have to have better negotiations regarding visiting forces agreements to make sure we don’t always get the short end of the stick.
We must start being treated as allies by our wealthier, more powerful “friends” instead of the annoyance that we seem to have become.
http://www.malaya.com.ph/index.php/opinion/17487-dumping-on-us-again
‘We have to have better negotiations regarding visiting forces agreements to make sure we don’t always get the short end of the stick.’
I SHAKE my head again in disgust over the recent allegations against Glenn Defense Marine (GDM) for dumping toxic waste into Subic Bay.
Of course, one is innocent unless proven guilty but there are too many reasons and circumstances surrounding the issue that point to the laxity of measures by GDM to protect the waters that it uses to conduct business.
The allegations are quite alarming and should concern all of us as we strive to protect whatever natural treasures are left after foreign and domestic pillage.
Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago filed a resolution to conduct an investigation to verify, among others, to wit that the dumping of toxic liquid waste 20 nautical miles off Subic Bay has been the “usual practice” of Glenn Marines Asia; that the company’s Certificate of Registration as a Freeport Registered Company is Subic Bay has no provisions for waste dumping; that MT Glenn Guardian, and another vessel, MT Glenn Enterprise has expired permits; and that the company never applied for a permit to dump toxic wastes in the open sea.
The resolution also mentioned that “the company also reportedly has a pending case before the Department of Environment and Natural Resources over the illegal dumping of liquid waste a few miles from Manila Bay.”
Glenn Defense Marine immediately issued a press statement professing that “we love the environment, too.”
In the statement GDF denies that it will ever dump “toxic and other chemical wastes into the sea because we know this will damage our business that thrives on seas.”
Moreover, the company “welcomes full-dressed investigations into the allegations that our ship dumped into the Subic Bay the wastes we collected from US naval ship USS Emory S. Land during the recent Visiting Forces Agreement exercise in the Philippines.”
Well, that’s what I hope to happen. Even though skeptics will say that nothing concrete ever comes from Senate investigations, at least I want to know if we’re being scr***d so we can go on to better forms of protests.
What I am not too happy about their statement is that they have already provided excuses if in fact the seas surrounding their operations are filled with toxic material.
“We are very much confident we will come out clean even in the most assiduous investigation. And if ever it will prove that toxic waste were indeed dumped, it cannot come from us.”
Well, they never assured or assuaged the fears of many regarding the other allegations as previously stated. It was like one whole motherhood statement.
I just hope that this is another eye-opener for our administration and those following it. We have to have better negotiations regarding visiting forces agreements to make sure we don’t always get the short end of the stick.
We must start being treated as allies by our wealthier, more powerful “friends” instead of the annoyance that we seem to have become.
http://www.malaya.com.ph/index.php/opinion/17487-dumping-on-us-again