MANILA – Tons of non-biodegradable garbage and water lilies are keeping floodwaters contained in various areas in Metro Manila, Environment Secretary Lito Atienza said Thursday, as he stressed the need to strictly implement the waste management law.

“This [effects of tropical storm Ondoy] should be a wake up call. We must change our ways. Dispose of your garbage properly,” Atienza said in an interview with ABS-CBN’s Umagang Kay Ganda.

He said drainage systems in Manila are clogged with non-biodegradable garbage. He added that water lilies from Laguna de Bay and Pasig River are also preventing floodwaters from receding.

“There are obstructions in the natural drainage. Water from Laguna de Bay is not flowing because of water lilies and fish pens. Technically, it should flow to Pasig River and then to Manila Bay and to the South China Sea,” Atienza explained, adding that if garbage were only properly disposed, floodwaters could have receded as soon as rains stopped pouring last Saturday.

He said President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, through the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), is urging all local governments to strictly enforce Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.

He added that he has ordered the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) to prevent the reconstruction of fish cages in the Laguna de Bay that were destroyed during the storm’s onslaught.

Officials said 90 percent of Pateros and 53 percent of Taguig remain in chest-deep floodwaters. Several areas near Pasig River, including Rizal and Pasig City, and areas in Laguna province were still flooded, as of posting.

The government’s relief operations have also been hampered by stagnant floodwaters, particularly in Pasig City and Rizal towns.

as of 10/01/2009 12:00 PM

Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Jose L. Atienza yesterday expressed optimism that the Philippines will be able to achieve its original investment target this year of $1 billion instead of its revised target of just $800 million.

Atienza was interviewed on Bloomberg TV in Singapore while attending the Asia Mining Congress. He said the DENR’s renewed optimism is due to the announced investment of Intex Resources and the start of production of at least four gold mining firms.

While acknowledging that the Philippines has been affected by the global economic recession, Atienza said “we have no reason to doubt that we will accomplish our targets.”

In fact, “we are sitting on a mountain of gold, he added.”

The DENR head stressed that “our mineral resources have kept investors focused on us.” He noted that there is a continuing investor interest in nickel production despite the current cyclical drop in nickel prices.

Atienza said nickel production this year is projected at around 100,000 tons of concentrate.

In his keynote address Wednesday, at the Asia Mining Congress in Singapore, Atienza assured potential investors that the Philippine order concern through government continues to addresss the peace and the creation of an Investment Defense Force.

He said the government would continue to “support and pursue” the more than 60 mining development, exploration and mineral processing projects that have been identified as part of the Philippine mining sector’s revitalization program.

These include the Xstrata/Sagittarious Mines Tampakan copper project, Sumitomo’s high pressure acid leach (HPAL) project and Intex Resources’ Mindoro nickel and fertilizer project.

The DENR chief also cited the start of production of two gold mines, that of Filminera Resources Corp.’s Masbate project and Philsaga Mining Corp. in Agusan.

Atienza also mentioned Carmen Copper Corp.’s Cebu mine which is slated to start operation this year.

“The operation of these three mines,” Atienza said, “amidst the crisis, is a significant achievement for us.”

Atienza pointed out that the entry of “some large Philippine corporations, who are acknowledged leaders in their core businesses, also augurs well for our mining industry.”

Atienza noted that “once the world recovers from the crisis, the developing world is expected to drive global growth” with demand coming from China and India, as well as from Japan and Korea.

“We believe that our growth prospects remain excellent. The industry’s growth may slow down, projects might be delayed, but we believe that long-term prospects remain good,” he said.