The Department of Environment and Natural Resources will ban the importation of chlorofluorocarbons, more commonly known as ‘freon’, starting January next year, a DENR press release said.

Environment Secretary Lito Atienza said the import ban on CFCs is in line with the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer as well as the National CFC Phase-out Plan. He also said the ban will boost the ability of the ozone layer to protect all living things on earth as it heals itself.

This move of the department is a commitment to the global effort to control the emission of ozone depleting substances and enable our damaged ozone layer to heal, Atienza said.

Atienza said that the Bureau of Customs will be assisting the DENR in the strict enforcement of the ban to avert any attempt to smuggle the banned chemicals into the country, the press release said.

Discovered in the late 1920s, CFCs are used in various industries as refrigerant, propellant, solvent and cleaning agent. Studies, however, showed that CFCs are capable of destroying the ozone molecules in the atmosphere resulting in the thinning of the ozone layer.

With the import ban, Atienza is urging all refrigerant dealers to purchase their CFC supply only from registered importers, the press release said.

The discovery of an ozone “hole” over the Antarctic prompted governments all over the world to come up with drastic measures to reduce the production and consumption of a number of CFCs and several halons through the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer adopted on Sept. 16, 1987.

Last September, on the 22nd anniversary of the Protocol, the fight against ozone depletion has reached a universal participation of 196 countries, including the Philippines, the press release said.

The Philippines became a signatory to the Montreal Protocol on September 14, 1988. The ratification of the Protocol by the Philippine Senate on March 21, 1991 and the subsequent Montreal and Beijing amendments in 2006 paved the way towards the commitment of CFC-Free Philippines, the press release added.*

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Scientific gabs set

The Canlaon Medical Society in  Negros Occidental, and the Philippine College of Occupational Medicine provincial chapter, will hold a scientific meeting and 20th Dr. Jose P. Fernandez Memorial  Lecture, 6  p.m. Wednesday, at Bacolod Pavillon Hotel, in the city, a press release from CMS said. 

The lecture on “Minimally Intensive Surgery” will be given by        Dr. Celia Divino, fellow, American College of Surgeon; The Stanley Edelman M.D. Professor of Surgery; program director, General Surgery Residency of Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York.

She will be introduced by Dr. Hector Gayares, and       Dr. Erlinda de los Reyes, CMS president, will give the opening remarks. Dr. Walthauser Viaje will be the open forum moderator, the press release said.    

Memorial lecturer at the 20th Dr. Jose P. Fernandez Memorial Lecture will be Dr. George Schussler, professor of Medicine, who will talk on “Euthyroid Sick Syndrome.” He will be introduced by Dr. Felix Valenzuela, PCOM president.

The response in behalf of the family will be given by Dr. Rollin Fernandez and the closing remarks will be made by Dr. Carlitos Magno, the press release said.

After the scientific meetings, fellowship and Christmas party, jointly hosted by CMS, PCOM and PMWA, will follow, the press release added.*

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Tree-planting
held at NORSU

About 2,000 seedlings were recently planted inside and outside the satellite campus of Negros Oriental State University in Guihulngan, Negros Oriental, as part of the students’ campaign to protect the environment, a Philippine Information Agency press release said.

Researcher Joan Butalid of the Air Reserve Center Philippine Air Force said the activity was done instead of gift-giving this Christmas season.

The tree-planning was initiated by the Philippine Air Force spearheaded by Lt. Col. Melchor Valdez, with the Philippine Army, Department of Natural Resources, Regional Emergency Assistance Communication Team and NORSU.

1Lt. Bernie Afable of Bravo Company of the 11th Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army, said the activity also aims to make students aware of solutions to climate change through the reforestation program, the press release said.

Afable said this is the first time the Army conducted a tree-planting activity in partnership with NORSU and hopes that this will be continued.

Bon Mark Uy, group chief of REACT-Negros Oriental, lauded the activity in the effort of reversing the effect of climate change. The REACT group has more than 100 active members in the province, the press release said.

2Lt. Ryan Joseph Magbojos of the Philippine Army, Commandant of NORSU Guihulngan campus said the same activity, borne from an idea of Lt. Col. Melchor Valdez.,  will be conducted on the third week of January at the NORSU main campus in Dumaguete City, the press release added.*

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