The Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) is seeking collaboration with local government units in its campaign for the phase out of Hydrochloroflourocarbons (HCFCs), an official of the agency said.
Engr. Elias Mamongcal, ozone desk office and chief of the Toxic Chemicals and Hazardous Waste Section confirmed that the EMB is currently drafting a joint agreement with the Department of the Interior and Local Government and Department of Trade and Industry that would improve the participation of municipal and city governments in the Montreal Protocol on ozone depleting substances (ODS).
This efforts, he said, is particularly intended to hasten the phase out the use of HCFCs not later than year 2040.
“We need our LGUs to join us monitor the ODS consumption at the grassroots level,” Mamongcal said.
Mamongcal said, EMB has identified four major dealers of HCFC in South Cotabato but added that retailers also play major role in the HCFC phase-out management plan.
“This is where the LGUs could help us because we need local legislation to facilitate and ensure the implementation is in getting in every household,” he said.
In an earlier report, EMB 12 OIC Regional Director Socorro Lanto noted that only HCFC is the only ODS needed to be phased out in the Philippines.
HCFC is a large group of compounds whose structure very close to chloroflourocarbons CFCs that causes depletion of the earth’s ozone layer.
After the phase out of CFCs, HCFCs are used as replacement in several applications such as refrigerants in refrigerators, freezers and air conditioning systems as well as in the production of insulative foams.
Mamongcal said, the joint agreement may possibly be signed in 2015.
Once signed, the agreement would guarantee the monitoring by DTI of HCFC products in the business permit issuance and renewal.
On the other hand, LGUs will be mandated to pass local ordinance to hasten the implementation of the phase out management plan.
Director Lanto also explained that in line with the HCFC phase out management plan, they have intensified information, education and communication campaign.
In August, EMB gathered over 30 representatives of the servicing industry sector in SOCCSKSARGEN for a forum to update them regarding the phase out plan and encourage their participation in the plan.
The HCFC Phase-out Management Plan in the country was launched in 2010.
In 2011, DENR Secretary Ramon Paje declared that starting 2013, the Philippine government will put a cap on the importation of HCFC to 2,644 metric tonnes.
From this base level, HCFC import will gradually be reduced by 10 per cent to 2,379.6 tonnes by 2015, 35 per cent to 1,718.6 tonnes by 2020, then 67.5 per cent to 859.3 tonnes in 2025.
From 2030 to 2039, DENR will only allow importation of 66.1 tonnes per year for use by the service sector.
