FOR US, the EcoWaste Coalition is in a much better job in strengthening its advocacy for government to strictly implement RA 11967 or the Internet Transactions Act.
Yes, the group is correct in calling on government regulators to stop the uncontrolled online trade of mercury and mercury-added products.
For one, it is this failure of regulators to put a handle on the online trading that leads to the proliferation of the toxic product not only in mines processing plant areas but also in what seems to be toxic-free environment like shopping establishments, dealers of school supplies, and others.
Among such products are school supplies like certain brand of papers, crayons and others. The production of the earlier-mentioned materials was earlier found to be using mercury-laden chemicals. Yet, no one seems to care. What with the necessity of its use especially among students in the lower grades.
With EcoWaste’s newfound focus, perhaps parents of students still in the lower grade level can relax since they now have a responsible partner in ensuring their kids can avoid any illness that is derived from toxic substances like mercury.
It is the fervent hope of this humble servant of the masses that the concerned government regulators will listen to the call of the EcoWaste Coalition to do their job. After all, it is for the benefit of the people.
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Well, this is one thing that we have yet to understand.
We are referring to the justification by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) of the observed long delay in the completion of the Maa-CP Garcia Diversion Highway flyover project. According to the DPWH, it is presently encountering problems in the acquisition of Road-Right-of-Ways in some properties.
What properties is the DPWH XI talking about? Is not the flyover built above the same space that serves as the route of the diversion road? Both approaches of the flyover project rise on the surface of the diversion road and despite the relative width of the flyover, neither of its side encroaches private properties. That is our observation on the project in the many times that we use the Magtuod-Diversion highway every time we come down to the city proper.
So why is the government’s infrastructure agency blaming the supposed non-acquisition of road-right-of-way? Has some private individuals acquired ownership of the space above the diversion highway that the DPWH has to negotiate?
We do not wish to think that DPWH XI officials are engaged in serious jokes. But then then we just need to laugh about it.
Of course, the cited reason that public utilities like the power distributor and the telecommunications companies have still to transfer their poles and other facilities is one valid justification that no one can argue.
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And what a good timing this resolution of Councilor Jessica Bonguyan for the local legislative body to convene itself into a committee as a whole and invite the DPWH, the contractor and all other agencies involved in the long delayed Maa-Diversion Road flyover project.
The recommended convening of the council as a committee of the whole and the appearance as resource persons of representatives from the concerned agencies, contractors and stakeholders is set on Aug. 12, the next regular session of the local legislative body.
We believe that in asking for the appearance of the concerned officials and personalities the council will be satisfactorily briefed of the true status of the project. The same venue will also allow the DPWH to prove that their publicized justification is indeed meritorious and thus deserving of the Davaoenos’ acceptance as gospel truth.
But should the agency fail to present convincing reasons then it can only further buttress the truth to suspicion that the project is victim of the ongoing political squabble between the Davaoeno-led opposition and the current national administration of Ilocano President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
