PLCPD POTICY BR

Health tnuitonmcnt
Synergies HumonDevelopment

Po[ulaton, and

forSustoinoble

I M riom Ame e Azurin-Abojo

T);i*#:],;,li-,fli,l,fi,o,.

",.",

I nar.rr-lre,ou..e,:rd rhe p.oducrionoi

waste. Changes in the environmental condrtron
suchas pollution, degradation and extremes of
weathet in turn, have affected human health
and weil-being. At the sarne time,population
size, growth, distribution, age composition and
mobilig' ofpeople also contribute to
environmentalchangeand aflect humanhealth.
Consumptionpattems, development choices,
wealth and lalrddistribution, trade and
investmentand technology the

have exacerbared
effectsofpeoplet actions on the environment
andviceversa.

T he mur uaJly rein ion.

torcing ft cror' of popuJ.rr

health and environment on povety and
developmenthave for too long been addressed
by the world in a fragmented manner -and
often in the contq.<r ofbringingabout positrve
macroeconomicgrowth and favorable

demographicoutcomes.Concernssucha.s
individual weli-being, the status ofwomen, the
health ofchildren and the state ofthe
environmenthave been considered secondary

Today, however, the Philippines joinsrhe

internationalcommunityin recognizing that
developmentrequiresmore chan justincreasing
national incomes and controlling population
growth and mobility to reduce pressure on

FROM ECONOMIC WELLNESS TO

HUMAN WILLNESS. People are rhe real
wealth ofnations. Development is thus about
expandingthe choices people have to lead lives
rhat they value: a human-centered
development
founded on building human capabilities. The
most basic capabilities for human development
areto lead long and healthy lives, to be
knowledgeable,to have access to the tesources
neededfor a decent standard ofliving and to be
able to participate in the life of the community.

\ifithout these, many choices are simply not

rvail:bleand many opponuniries

in life remain
inaccessible. This is especially true for women
who have fewer choices and opportunities thal
m�n because ofexisting discriminatory social
and cultura.l practices.

The environment ptovides most ofthe

resourcesrequiredto ensure that p�ople efljoy a

quality Jife. rW4rileresourcescan be usedin

eradicating poverty, people should also be

mindftl ofthe risla that inordinate use ofthe

world\ natural resources

can pose ro rhe se.uriry

of future generatiorx. A sustainable human-
centered developmeflt (SHD) therefore, seels to
expand choices for all -women and men
especially the poorest of them -without
sacrificing the rights ofthe future generations
and the natuml systems in which all life
depend.'

Ahuman-centeredsustainable development
recognizes that no dght is more important than
other rights (the right to a healthy environment
is as important as the right to access the 6uits of
dwelopment) and that poverty ard gender
inequiry are caured by mary Facrors.l hese

principles r�qufue convergent approachesto

development.

The convergenceofpopulation, health and

environment addresses as much the various
causesof poverq. The seriesof global meering:
convened in rhe Ir)r)Os embodiedd1e grow ng
recognition ofdrese linkages in solving the
worldt greatest problems.

The 1992IN Conferenceon Environment and

Developmenr

(UNCED)or rhe fuo Conference

recognizedthe great responsibilityof dweloping
countries in addressing the world's
environmental degadation. This, in the contert
ofthe sovereign right of states to exploit their
own resources puJsuantto their own
environmenralanddevelopmenral

policJes.
which mrxt be ftIfilled to equitably meet the
needs ofpresent arrd future generations. It also
recognizedthe following: the Ley role of

staLeholders especially of indigenous peoples

-

in the decision-making processes, the need to

develop national legislation regarding
compensation for victims of pollution and
other environmental damag�, th� us� of
economic instruments to take into account the
polluter-pays principle and the imponance of
environrnental impact assessmentas a tool fot
precautionarydecision-maLing.

The 1 994 International Conference on

Population and Development required

governments to deliver at the soonest possible

time universal access to reproductive health

servicesas a cmcisl factor in achieving

su<rainable

growrh baed on gender equaliry. lr

rlso rheinrera.cJons

among populacion,

"rre"ed

economicgrowth and sustainable dwelopment.

The agreement avoids demographic targets or
goals. It stressesthat poverry and gender
inequicJes

affecr and .ue affer ted by popubrion

growth, age structure and distribution. Furtheq
it states that "unsustainablecoruumption and
productionpatterns" overusenatuml resources,
degrade the environment, and reinforce gender
inequality and poverqr
Two world conGrences in 1995 funher reinforced
thse linkages.The Fourth World Conference on
Women dealt witl woment panicipation"in all
spheresof society," induding environmmtal
managemmt,asa prer�quisite "forpeople-crntered
development."Similarlr world leaders agreal in

:"

theVorld Summit for Social Development to

"placepeople at the centre ofdevelopment and

direct[eachofthe counuies ] economiesto meet

humanneedsmore efectil,ely" In 2000, these

agre�mentswere rcamrm�d in the Millennium

Declarationencapsulated

in quantifi able targea

and indicators.

The Philippines is a signatory to tiese

intemational agreements.In addition, it is also a

party to 69 Multilateral Environmental

Agreements(MEAs) and a signatory to 21

others to date.'? MEAs are intemationally-agreed

environmentaltreaties covering a range ofissues

induding trade in endangeredspecies,cleaner

production, toxic wastes, sea boundaies and

limi* on the use ofozone-depleting substances,

amongothe$.

Principles ofSHD are also strongly upheld rn

the 1987 Pbilippine Constitution. Artide II,

Sec.9 declares"the State shall promote a just

and dynamic social order that will ensure the

prosperityandindependence

ofthe nation and

free the people from poveny through policres
that provide adequate social services, promote
firll employment, a rising standard ofliving and
al improved qualig of [ife for all. ln addirion.
Sec. I 5 enunciates,"i:hestate shall protect and
advancethe right of the people to a balanced
andhealtbful ecology in accord with the rhlthm
and hatmony of nature. Further, Sec. 1 1
pronounces,"the Statevalues the dignity of
every human person and guamntees full respect
for human rights." In line with this, swerat taws
have been passed,yet poveny, ill-hea.lth and
environmentaldegradationremain to be
persistent problems in the country.

THE LINKAGES DEFINED. The body of

international agreements sbifted attention fiom

che rradicionaJ'people-versus-environment
point ofview to drat of intenelatedness.
Peoplet actions can positively or negativ�ly alt�r
their environment. Reciprocally, changes in the
environmentcen either damage or nourish
peoplet well-being. Built upon the spirit ofthe
internarionaJ in rhe par de.ade.

agreemenrs
dwelopment workers and managers are realizing
some achievements in their practiceof
integrated approaches to population, health and
environment,

At the initial stage, however, animosiry may

occur among specialistsand s�rvice-providers rn
these different fieldsdueto feelings of'turfing"
or differencesin conceptual understanding. A
demographer,for instance, may view population
differendyfrom a womeni righr. advocare.
Donor-agenciesrnay also contribute to
fragmented approaches becausethey have a
diferent concern when they give out funds.
Thus, finding a shared understanding is the first
step to achieve common objectives.'

Population in this sense means three things:

population dynamics, reproductive health and
peopie as development actors. Fertiliq/,

morreliry and migration determine

demographicoutcomes,whichinfluencethe

demandfor goodsand services. Population

distributionalso determines accessto, as well as

'heallo.arion:nd u.�ofre'our.e\. lopuLrion

dynamicsbearweight on how resources

will be
consumed,producedand allocated and these
directly affect the environment quantitatrvely
arrd qualitativelya Mearwhile, without
distributionalequity of resources,

poverry arrd
genderinequitiescan occur.

PopuJar:orra. an i*ue a1"o inrolve"reproducLire

health and lamily planning. A womant abiliry
to control her fenility gives her moretimeto
participatein managing the communityt
resources.

ProPerchild-sPacingalso makes
women healthier arrd incteases the possibility of
bearinghealr\ier, hildren d,re ro de.rea.ed r;me
spent lorhousehold chores inciuding finding
wood for fuel and fi:tching water.

The term population also caJries with it peoplet

participadonin resource management.If peoPle

Figure1. The Population, Health and

EnvironmentCycle

Receptor
Link

Environmental
conditions

Humans

Driver Link

Source:PopulationReferenceBureau adapted
lrom C.E. Orians a.ndM. Skumanich.

are able to participate, positiveresultsare

realizedsince thev are able to determine their
own needs wirhin the productive limits ofther
own envifonmenr.j

the natural assets

rha-ncarr be used for economic production
(naruralresources), of living

Environment encomp3ises

theinterdependence
and nonJiving components in an �nvimnment
recol.rem' arld .he exrenL of \urr.trl a' r i' iq on
the original smte ofan ecosystem (humanaltered
ecology).

The term health is Lrnderstood to be the

generalhealth ofthe communiry and how to
improve it (publichealth) and the potential
hazardousfactors ofche environment and the
effect ofthe latter on humat health and
qualiryoflife (environment3lhealth).6The
UN hasgivenhealth a much broader sense
definingit as "astate ofcomplece physical,
menral and social well-being and not merely
the absence ofdiseaseandinfirmiry" Ensuring
the absence ofdiseaseis a matter that can be
looLed into by medical specialists but other
than this, it requires aconfluenceofother
interventions.

In the 1990s, the Batrie Seattle Research

Center created a model ofthe relationship of

population and environment and its impact on

human health. The linkages aredemonstrated

in Figure l. The lirst part depicts how people

become drivers ofenvironmental changeltne

iower arrorv) and the second part focuses on

how people are affected by or become

receptorsofenvironmentalchange(theupp.'

arrow).r

ENSURING DEVELOPMENT FOR

PtOIrl E. NOT FOR EARNTNCS. De'pirc

the existence of internationalhumanitarianlaws

and human rights agreements,

governments
often addre* po'erq b1 in.rersinge.oroni.
production in the beiiefthat its bene{its will
tricLledown to the poor In developing
countri�slvhereheary industries have no! been
fully developed, economic production requrres
extractiveand int�nsive use ofnatural resourccs

-u l'i, h di'rurb" Ll'eqcle

ohen,rnregulared.
ofpopulation,hea.lthand environment and
aggravateseisting inequities.

A'u.rain:blehurnan de\elopmenr

cenrered i'
the uldmate objective of growth. However,
governmenlsare also committed to
giobalization chrough agreernents

made in the
-VorldTiade Orgarization andwith
international financial insticutionsthatrequire
agovernancesystem that aims to increase
investmentsfor unregulated production and
lessersupportfor social services. The 1996
Human Development Report aptly points out
that economic growth does not necessarily lead
to human developrnent. In the Philippines,
economic growth from 2000 ro 2003 has not
been pro-poor, according to Asial
Development Bank (ADB). Though there was
growthin gross domestic product (GDP) from
2000 to 2003, preliminary results of the 2003
Family Income and Expenditure Survey
indicarea 10-percent drop in real average
family incomes.

\X4rile globalization lengthens life-spans through

medicaltechnologies, income

increases
opporturities and facilitates better-yielding
production,it also contributes to *re
deteriorationofpeoplet well-being and the
deLeriorarion

oir-hct nr ir"runen, b) Jrering fie

parternsof consumptionald production,
especiallyin technologically resource-poor
developingcountries like the Philippines.
Further,MEAc :-re rendered furile by developed
countries due to conflic$ resulting from trade
agreements.

lhe Philippine. Term Pl'ilipp'nc

Medium
Development Plar (MTPDP) has always been a
showcaseof conllicting paradigms. Vhile
committing to sustainable human development
goals,it alsoactively promotes extractive
industriessuch x mining, intensive agriculture
through promotion of high-value crops,

aquacl ture and toruism rvhich because of

insuficient regulation endangerthe ecosystems,
human life and livelihoods.

\flhile targeting a lower population growth rate

as well as rvomen- and community-
empowerment,theMTPDP makes no
commitment to the provision ofreproductrve
he;lh ,eni.e' ;nd ro appropriare ir

increa5e'
governmentexpenditurefor social seryices.
Investmentsin human development are pursued
with the uitimate objective ofindeasing
macroeconomicpeformance in the context of
an open and liberal economy.

PO\,'ERTY, ILL,HEALIH CHAMCTERIZE

RESOURCE RICH PHILIPPINES. The
Philippinesis one among the countries in the
world where mega-diversity is greatest.There are
about 13,500 plart species about

(representing
5 percent ofthe world's llora)and177,000
animal species in irs forest areas.The few
remaining primary loresrsare home ro 44
percent of endemic flowering plants ald I 2
million indigenous peoples. The country's coral
reef area, rhe second largestin SoutheastAsra,
holds915 reef fish species and more than 400

SuccessSiory #I

BAGGAOis rhe th;rd mosr populousmunic;polit in Cogoyan

wilh o ropid populoton grovrah roie in the uplond borongoys.
Itsproblemsinclude insufficienl occesslo heolih servicesoad low
oworeness heolth. poor

of reproduclive Thereisgenerolly
understondinsof sustoinoble formins procticesond
conservolionoworeness.A boseline survey reveoledthotmost
formers were using.pesticides on

ond were heovily-dependent

fuelwood. A hish-incidence of infont mortoliiyond poor
reproductiveheslth services were olso mon:fusi.

To solvethe problems,ihe municipol governmentlo!nchedo

proiectwithth ree components: reproductive heolthondfomily
plonningsewices, in{ormolion ond educofion compoign ond
noturol resource monogemeni.

Afler o series of integroted opproaches, the municipol

governmenlsuccess{ullyochieved ils developmenl obiectives.
reolizing the volue of brood-bosed pod;cipotion,hormonizolion
ofgoolsond strong polit;colwill.

Sourcei A Cose of Popu,oito n ond Envnanmenr ProiectJmplementoton

scleractinian coral species, 12 ofwhich are
endemic.The country is also abundant widr
land-basedresourcessuchas timber, petroleum,
nicLel,cobalt, silver, gold, salt, copper,
geothermalenergz and fertile tracts ofland
suitableto agriculture.

Despite these natural endowments, 30 percent

of rhe population .-ouJdnor meet dreir ba(ic
daily needs to survive while 13.8 percent could
nor meet Lheir daily nuuidonal requirements in
2003.3Health challenges in the Philippines
include high maternal mortaliq/ tates, a very
high incidence oftuberculosis (rankedeighthin
the world by the Wodd Health Organizadon)ard
poor quality and inaccessibility ofpublic
heafth care services. arein a

The pooresr Families

dire situation-65 percent are without access
Losafewarer aid 70 percenchaven

"upply

sanitarytoilets.e In rural areas, accessto land is

one of the main determinants ofwelfare. The
rural poor that constitute the bulk of the poot
cannot rise 6om povertydueto inequitable
distribution of resources.'0Almost half of poor
families(43 percent) have no decentdwelling.
Even before the governmentt strategies can evet
takeeffect, 2.3 percent ofthe present
population would have been added annually to
the population.

PHILIPPINE RURAI AREAS. Three-fourths

ofthe poor comprising more tharr 20 million
people maLe a living out ofagriculture and
fisheries activities. However, only 7 out often
farmers own the land they till. Without a
securetenure, the poor are not encouraged to
u-sesustaiflabl�patterns ofproduction and are
easily displaced from their land. Lach of access
to natural resources amofig the poor is
exacerbatedby decreased per capita availability
ofnatural resourcesdueto high fertility

race.-whichis ar 4.J chil&en per vromanin

the rulal areas.

Ruralpovetty is addressed through

agriculturaldevelopmentpolicies that favor
intensiveproduction and land use conversron
ro generare cashfor rhe country. UltimaLely,
thesepolicies do not directly address the root
causesof unsustainable patterns of
production.
Agriculoral developmentpolicies impact on

human, land and eco-system health.

Gor,ernmentiagriculturalpolicy is 'lanred

towards the production ofhigh-value crops

(FWC) and high-yielding vaieties (HYVJ as

high demand abroad rakes in needed revenues

for the country Thus, many farmlands devoted

ro planting staplecropslike rice and corn have

shiftedto cultivalting HVCs and H\ /s. Aside

from &e huge demand for water, cash crops are
heavily dependent on chemical pesticidesrhar
has been proven by the \fHO robe detrimental
cohumans-

The Kamukhaan case,a farmingvillage in

D'go..Davaodelsu. illu'ra.e' rhi".rdre'.e
impactof pesticide-use.

After prolonged

appl'ca.ion oi pe'rrcide.. ia-men in rhe I illage

sufferedfrom neurologicalimpairment, gotter,
cancetvomiting,asthma,anemiaand birth

defectsrangingfrom deft lip palate to severe

skindiseases. number ofchildren

A considerable
alsoshowed developmental delays including
stunring,wasring,delaysin the developmenr of
secondarysexualchancteristicsand mental
deficiencies."{7omen's biological make-up
makesthem more prone to the toxic effects of
chemicalsarld pesticides, since they have more
fatty tissues. Toxins stored in a mothert body
will not only damageher liver, kidney and
spleer.lt could eventuallybe passed on to her
unbornchild.

Thehealthimpact ofpesticide-use doesnot end

with the user: it stays in the crops, goes to the

market and ends at the dining table lesticide

residueswhen washed off from croplands go

down to water bodies and poison marine and

human life.

Modernpesticideusealso poses ill_effectsto the

ecologyby disruptingits balance.Pesticides
indiscriminatelykill beneficial and harmful
pests.Harmful pesacan recover faster and can
developresistancewhile beneficial pestscannot
Thus, harmful pests will grow unchecked ro
mvagemore crcPs later on. Some birds that feed
on pests are also threatened and may develop
and suffer from certain reProductivedisorders
andstunting. Other effects move up the food
cham.
Logging, farming induce stress to fofests.

The upland populationofthe Philippines

already exceeds 25 million people, 6.3 million

ofthem belonging to indigenous peoples
Many among tbemhave knowledge of
.usrain.rLrle

fu r ming. Th< Un.r enirl ui.he

Philippines?opularionInstitute estimated an
amrual upland popularion growth rate of2.8
percent.UplandpoPuladonsare primarily the
poorestofrhe poor theleast educated, least

paid,least healthy and least hopeflrl with

insecurelandtelute that impedcs sustainable
farmingpracrices.They are mistakenly viewed

a' lore.r perperraror'

rrIherlhJnr'"'i.rim\'
even when the largest and most direct causesol
deforestationin the Philippinesareiarge-scale
corporate logging (ESSC,1999), rnining anrl
conflictingland conversions (Mallariand
Tabaranza

2001).''/

Upiandmigrationhas increased as a result of

decliningarablearrdproductivelard due to
indi.criminare ard popr'brion

hnd . onr er.ion

pre*ure'.a $ella5 decrea'ing

opporrunirie'in
the lowlands. Settlersfalm on iands with about
18 degrees siopethat occupy about9 4 million
hectaresor one-third of the country's total land
areaof30 million hectares.The sloping
topographyandthe high rainfall subject the
cultivation of sloping iands to vaious degrees of
erosion and otherforms ofland degradation

oge
\Tithout secureland tenure, upland famers
resort to erosive farming methods ald pesticide-
use, causing ioss oftopsoil and soil acidiry.

I-ogging, both in its commercial and illegal

forms are liable for the decline of forest covcr
from an estimated 21 million hectares or 70
perceflt ofthe country's total land area in 1900,
to only 7.1 68 million hectares or 24 percentof
ror:l la;rd area in 2002. 'Commerciallogging
per seis allowed in the Philippines since there
are supposed to be lawsthat provide the
mechanisms to avoid potential denudation.
Howeve! certain factors can conffavene such
measures.D�spite the logging ban in some areas
and stricter processes in the issuance ofTimber
License Agreements, it is not uncommon to
read reports ofillegal logs being confiscated.
Former Senator Orly Mercado once
commented, in light of the Aurora flashfloods,
that "the only difference... is that the legal
loggershavepolidcal dout and that's the reason
rhey carr get the timber licenseagreement."'o

Now that government has cancelled

community-based forest mafiagemenr projects
and movedto open up forestsfor corporate
logging ostensibly to generate jobs afid rcvenues,
the toll on lives ald the environment would
likely continue. Iurther, without livelihood in
the lowlands, people will be attracted to go
uplandwhere opportunities are open in
industrial logging projects.

Increasinghumar capabJlities in upland

communities is crucial to ensure a safe arrd
healthy environment. B�cause of their
geographiclocation, government services for
primary health, family plalrning services and
education have not adequately reached these
people, thereby increasing their dependenceon
resource-basedlivelihood. A study made by the
Conservation lnternational-Ph ilippines reveals
that highereducational a(arnment in rural areas
brings population away ftom dependence on
natlrel rcsources and this has positive impact on
conseffation.Increaiingaccessto high school

v ith louer ferriJity

rate, lower child-to-woman ratio and smaller
householdsize that ca-n open new doors, other
than child-bearingarrdhouseLeeping,to gainful
employmentor furcher study for rural

edu.arionisalso associared

Miningt hannfrrl impact on resources and

health. Large-scale mining is legal in the
Philippines despite documented evidences of
hazardoustransgenerationalimpact

to ecosystem
and humar health. In 2004, 19 large and
medium-scale mining comparies were granred
mining rights on Philippinesoil. Government
often perceives the mining industry as a source
of revenue and job-generationbut not as a
culprit in the deterioration ofits overall capital
stock and in preventing long-term sustainability.

Becausemineralprocessingrequires

substantial
energy ard water, mining may comeinto
conflictwith local populations ifwater resources
are already sc-arce. About one-seventh of mining
ard erplorarion .on.essions

in the f hilippines
can be found in areas ofhigh watershed stress,
where demand for water exceeds the available
supply by at least35 percent. Certainly, mitung
competes with other users for sc:Ilce water
resources,

Each phase of mining --fiom exploration to

extractionr processing and closure --incurscosts,
Mining in thelhilippines.however.i, ,e.erel)
un.usrainable

and poser irreprable demage.

More than half (56percent)ofall mining leases
and exploration sites in the country are home to
endemic species ofplants ald animals and are
ancestraldomainsofindigenous peoples whose
lalrd rights arenot often formally recognized.
About 60,000 hectares ofintact forest are
subject to activ� miniflg and exploration
activities. These mining activities caus�
environmental damage such as deforestation,
soil erosion, and sedimentation ofwater bodies.

In Fbbruary, fish kills in Luba, Abra were

traced co ryanidetailings from the Lepanto

Lr
ConsolidatedMining Corporation (Lepanto)
oprratingjn upsrream in

Benguer.'Tlri.e
October2005, mine tailing spiliage
containingcyanide from LaFayette Mining
Inc. caused fish Lills in Rapu-Rapu lsland,
Nbay. Dugong, which is classified as a
vulnerable specie by the Union for the
Conservation ofNature (IUCN) and
protected by the Convention on
In rer nar in Fndangered ie.

ionalTrade Spe.
fCITES)were among che 'peciesFound
lifeless in the area.'7 Mining pollutants cause
diseasesand disability but the most lethal
andirreversible for ecology and hurnan
healthis mercury contamination, such as the
one caused by the 1996 Marcopper accident
in Marinduque.

Damage to forest, marinealrd fieshwater

resourcesdue to mrning activities also injure dre
liveJihood of populations that depend on
resourcessuch as fuelwood, herbs, timber, shell,
fish, mollusls and weeds. 'Vith the
governmentt shift iom prudence to active
promotion of the mining industry these
harmful effects will be felt more severely in the
comingyeers.As an offshoot ofthe 2004
SupremeCoun decision on the
constitutionalityof foreignownership of
mining corporations, 24 mining projects

'priority projects"by the

classified as
govefnment are expected to come this year 't

Competing uses for resoutces destroys

coastal rcsources. The Philippines is the 11'r'
fish producer in the worid and has a rich
bounty ofecological systems underneathrts
coastalwaters. Around 40-60 percent ofthe
total fish catch comes ftom coastal fishing.re
The coastal zonescarl be found in 60 percent
ofthe country's 73 provincesand
municipalities.toLike forest communities,
coastalcommunitiesareunder-servedin the
provision ofenvironmental services andbear
the highest income losses dueto sickness and
medical exp�nses relatedto water-related
diseases.

is a
significantissue in the coastal zone. Industrial
and real estate developmentprojecs, which
require broad expanse ofland in the most
scenic or productive areas ofthe coascal zone
compete with other uses for agriculture and
conservation.Tourism and r�crcation also
competewith sewices and amenities,
including roads and water supply that should
have been meant for communities.
Approximately60 million people live within
100 hm ofthe Philippinecoastline and
without adequate government support for
family planning services, unabated population
growth will intensify competition for

Competition among resource-users

The use oflethal anddestructivefshing

techniquesby small fisherfolks is already a
manifestation of this competition. Pollution
andoverfishingby commercial boa6 have
cau'ed decline in fish srock and rhe.e he\.
pushed farmers to resort to dangerous fishing
methods tiat only mire them deeperin poverty
due to potential disabiliry and smaller {ish catch
from lost reefsystems that serve as habitat for
war�r animals. At present, only 0.27percentof
Philippine reeGareknown to be in qrcellent
condition.

Industrial and tourist establishments and

adjacent communities pollute coastal waters

thereby posing a threat to public health, the

ecology and by extension, the econorny. A
sample study ofBataan beaches revealedthat
all ofits four beaches have failed the
minimum coliform prevalence criteriawhile
one did not pass the criteria for fecal
coliform.Thirry-onepercent of illnesses
between 1994 and 2000 were traced to warerrelated
diseases. Known diseasescausedby
polluted warer include gastro-enteritis,
diarrhea,qphoid, cholera,dysentery,and
hepatitis. According to the Department of
Health,more than 500,000morbidity-and
4,200mortality-caseswereattribured to
water-relateddiseasein 2000.'z?
Sincewomenare actively involved in fish
processing, maJketing, fish culture and in
fishing operations, theyare the ones hardest hit
during low fish catch. Improving their
reproducrivehealth is hugely important to
them. Women'saccessto reproductive health
serviceshelps them to space their children,
eng:gein education and learn orher.[il]. for
alternativesourcesof income. Reproductive
healththus leads to their improved starus and
increasedparticipationin decision makingand
managementat th� village and local
administrarionlevel.

SucceseStoq/ #3

CONCEPCIONiss 4th closs coostol municipolilyin

lloilo with 25 borongoys, whosepeopledepend on
fishing ond forming os meonsof livelihood lb
geogrophicollocolion ond vulnerobililyto noturol
disostersismognified by o highpopuloiiongrowth
roie ond highpopulotiondensityin o fost-deterioroting
environment.

Signi{iconlochievemenlsweremode when the LGU

odoptedthe PHE opprooch: lhe communityenioyed
improvedoccesslo quolity reproductive heollh
services,enhoncedknowledgeond skills of heolth
serviceprovidersin fomily plonningcounseling,
orgonizedYoulhPeer Fociliiolors, increosedFP
occeplorsond esloblishedheolthfocilities.

ln lhe environmenl,lhe opproochled tolhe

emoowermedo{ lhe Fisheries ond Aquotic Resource
MonogemenlCouncil(FARMC),increosedmorine
reserveorcos,subslontiollyreducedillegol fishing,
increosed{ish cqtch ondmoinstreomedsustoinoblelqnd
monogemenlondmongrovere{oreslofion.

PHILIPPINE URBAN AREAS. Urbanizatron

is often associated industrres,

with developed
aftluenceand planned cities. But in the
Philippine'.like in m:n1 deueloping

counrrie".

urbanizationhas come to m�an slum

dwellings,pollution,crime,illiteracy, crowded
householdsarrdpoor sanitation. Extreme rural
poverty,triggeredby the governmelltt
economicstrategytowards building zonesof
productionin cities, has spurred rural-to-urban
migrationto the promised land of
"opportunities."However,industries in the
cities do not have the capacity to absorb
enough labor force and most local
governmentsdo not have enough resourcesto
respondro rhe increased [or basic

demand
goods and servicesliLehealth, education,
roads,housing, transportation, waste
managementan(t sewerage, among ooers

Be$een 1980 and 1990, internal migration

grewby 5 percentarnually and wenrually

Ieveledoffat 3 percent.Ifthe rrend continues,

expertsbelievethat 65 percent ofthe total

populationwill be living in urban centersby

2020.In addidon to the high lwels ofinflux,

women in urban areasbearone child more than

uhar rheyde'ire. { fasr grouing populacion

in
a fi.c.rJ .ch rJle nged gorernmenL

l1 i'.r .ignificanr
impedimentconfiontingenvironmentalists,
healrhworken and deuelopmenL in

pl.urner.
achievinga good qualirylife.

!!'aste disposal needsto keep up with a

growing urban population. Ar average

Filipinohouseholdin tlre urban area generates

0.5klograms(kg)of garbage daily. In Metro

Manilaalone, around 6,700MT ofwaste are
generateddaily arrd the mrmber is expected to
increaseby40 percent in 2010. Food and
kitchen waste (45%),plasric(15%),glassand
wood(9%),paper(1690)ard other wastes
(157o)constitutehouseholdwastesin Metro
Manila.

Industries also contribute heaviiyto waste

generation.Many ofthese industriesSenerate

:
\i
hazardous waste that contibutes to air, soil and
water pollution. Approximately 2.3 million
MT ofhazardous waste are generated by
industries every year Oil, immobilized waste,
containers, and plating waste make up more
than half of recorded hazardous waste
nationwide. Hospituls generarean additional
6,750 tons ofinfectious waite annually.

The pile ofgarbage disposed daily presents a

hugeproblem ofwaste disposal in urban
centers.Some dumpsites have already been
closed due to �nvimnmental hazards. Yet, ar
ADB 'rudyrevealed in

rhar ruo dump'ires

Metro Marila contained substantial amount of
lead and arsenic. Cenain amounts oflead and
mercury were also found in Manila Bay.

tarly.ymprom'of lerdpoi,oning mimi.

generalmalaiseor common illnesses, thus it is
not uiually diagnosed correctly. Ifleft untreated,
lead poisoning can cause irritability, poor muscle
coordination, nerve damage, higher blood
pressure end problems ofhearing and seeing for

"
aduits. Reproductive difficulties (low sperm
counts) and disturbed pregnancies may also
develop. In children, iead poisoning can cause
brain damage and retardation, anemia, liver and
kidney damage,hearingioss, hyperactivity and
even death. \trorkers ifl makeshift battery
recycling and repair facilities show increased lead
levels in their blood, significartly higher rhan
therVHOt permissibleexposurelevels. Battery
rc.ondirionen and sme'rer. in rhe Philippines
are located in populated areas. The health ofthe
public and the environment suffers fiom
sulfuric acid dumpedin streams,into the sewer
system,or onto the soil.zr

PROPOSED STRAIEGIES FOR A

HUMAN-CENTERED PHE APPROACH.
Strategies that do not address equity can only
accomplishso linle. Integrated approaches

on
population, health and environment that
:dd-e* equiry .ervero achiere hurnaniry\vi.ion
fbr a sustainable andjustdevelopment.

Dwelop strategies, action plaas, monitoring

and evaluation arrd accountability
mechanisms in response to international
humar rights obligations and the Multilatenl
Environment Agreements. International
agreementsset a uniform acceptable standard of
development arrd mechanismsfor
accountabilig/.

Ensure equitable access to resou:ces. \felldefined

propeny rights and increased accessof
the poor to land and other resources encourag�
resourc�-use$to apply sustainable pattems of
production and consumpdon. Access to
resourcesalso expands opportunities for rhe
poor to achieve improved quality oflife.

Engage communities and women in

managing resources. Men ald women's
participation in matters concerning resource
management acknowledges that saving the
environmenr improringwomen\

also involves
circumstances

in lifb.

Provide reprodtct .ehelth services arget�d

towards the poor. Acress by the poor to
reproductivehealti services generatesmultiple
gains at tie household, cmmunity and national
levels,hence the needto arget certaifl
nterventions.
Institute convergence arnong sectos, fields of
specialization, gor�rnment and donor-
agenciesin developrnentplanning. A
population, health, and envimnment approach
for human developmelt requires multisectoral
participation, interdisciplinary analysis and
sttategiesand the collaboration ofdifferent
staheholders,especiallyamong government
bodiesat verious levels. Donor-agencies also
need to reptogram their support towards
integrated approaches.

Promote co4rorate social responsibility.

Partnershipwichindustrjes ir

and businesses
important in the conduct ofsustainable and
clean production.

Stimulate revenues and incentives for

conserv'etionprogrrms.Incre:ring domestic
wastewaterfees and industrial pollution charges,
x weJla. Ge pror i'ion of in.enrive' ro rhe
privaresecrorinJl uence behar ioral change in
resourceproduction arrd consumption,

kgislation on reproductive health, land use,

and forest and coastal man�ement should be
expeditedarrd oversight to existing laws on
environment and health needs to be done.
Fast population growth without adequate
fumily planning rewicesintensifie'compeddon
amongresource-users

thatfurthernarginaliz�s
thepoor Thus, sustainable management
coupled with reproductive health services to
empo\{erwomenis required. At the:ametime,
past achievements in legislation should also be
monitored and evaluated.

Endnoies

Integroting humon rightswithsustoinoblehumon

development.A UNDPpolicydocume.t. United
NotionsDevelopmenl Prosromme. Jonoory 1998

'?
Kri9otur 8erse. Does MultilorerolismReolly Work?.
World Student Communily for Sueoinqble
Development. 13 Morch 2004.

RoserMcrk De Souzo, An Asendo for Populotion,

Hedhhond Environmenl: The Nen $eps Ior
Environmenr,Populotion, ond Security.

Roger-MorkDe Souzo, iohn. S. Wllioms, ond

Frederick A:8. Moye.son- Criricol Links: Populoiion,
Heolrh ond the Environme.t. Populdtion Sullenn.
PopulotionReferenceBureou. S�plember 2003. Vol.
58, No.3

s De Souzo, Willioms ond Meyerson. 2003

6

De Souzo, Willioms ond Meyercon. 2003

'

De Souzo, Willioms ond Meyerson. 2003

6

Nolionol Slotisiicdl Coordinoting Body 2000 ond

2003 Regionol Poverry Estimoies.

'

Annuol Povedy IndicoioE Survey

I0 AsionDevelopmeni Bonk. Absoluie number oI poor

hds inc.eosed. Philipp'ne Doily lnquirer Mor 20,
2005
Pesticide Action Neiwork Asio Pocific. Foctsheei:

-
Pesticidepoisonins in Komukhdon.
L The world's moe ropid ond mossive deforeslolion.
Horibon Foundotion. Mdrch 4, 2005.
13World Bonk Philipp;ne Enfironme.t Repo'l2004.
'i

Losgins suspended in Phil;ppines. September 4,

2004. htrp://"ews.obc.(o.rl/ |/l /*o-ld/ osid

-
pscific/4068477.s1n.
15Biodiversiiy10 Humon welfore in the Phiiippines.
Powerpointpresentotion

Rore Morine Mommol Dies in WoteB Contominqted

by Mine Toilings. www.buloltot.com. Gerry Corpuz
Businesvorld.Feb.14,2006. $374million
expectedthisyeorfrom 24 pr;orityminins proiecls.
BFAR
DENR
DENR
world Bork ?004.
The Bosel Bon And Bditeries. Steve Voynick,
freeloncewriter, Leodville, Colorodo.