MANILA, Philippines — Environmental group EcoWaste Coalition on Tuesday urged the government to fast track the ratification of a global treaty aiming to protect the public and the environment from the effects of mercury. Ecowaste Coalition Chemical Safety Campaigner Thony Dizon said he believes the country is “ready, willing and able” to ratify and implement the provisions of the Minamata Convention on Mercury. “We therefore request the Duterte government to ratify the treaty and to secure the necessary concurrence by the Senate,” he added. The third meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury. Dizon said the ratification of the treaty will “strengthen” the country’s efforts to combat mercury pollution, adding that it will allow the government to fully engage in treaty processes as a party to the convention.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer October 01, 2019 03:23 UTC