PH Reaffirms Commitment to Global Pact on Mercury
Ambassador Evan P. Garcia, Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva, during the meeting of the Parties to the Minamata Convention in Geneva in November 2018. (Geneva PM photo)
GENEVA 11 December 2018 — The Philippines reaffirmed its commitment to global efforts to address the harmful effects of the use of mercury on human health and the environment during the Second Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention, held in Geneva on 19-23 November 2018.
Composed of representatives from the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Philippine delegation stressed the importance of educating both industries, and workers and reiterated the need for concerted action to effectively implement the Convention at a global scale.
The Convention bans the opening of new mercury mines, aims to phase out those still in operation, provides guidance on mercury storage and disposal, and seeks to reduce and eliminate mercury use in products such as dental amalgams.
“As an original signatory to the treaty when it was adopted in January 2013 in Japan, the Philippines looks forward to the completion of domestic procedures towards ratification as it continues to work with local and international stakeholders in regulating mercury use while providing viable alternatives to affected individuals and industries,” said Ambassador Evan Garcia, Permanent Representative to the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva.
The Conference of the Parties adopted guidelines on the environmentally sound interim storage of mercury, and agreed to enhance work on determining mercury waste thresholds and methodologies related to reducing releases to land and water, among other decisions.
The treaty entered into force 16 August 2017, and has so far been ratified by 101 countries. The Philippines is currently working on the ratification of the convention.
Mercury is a naturally-occurring but poisonous metal with broad industrial uses, commonly used in small-scale and artisanal mining to extract gold from unprocessed ores. END
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