When the U.S. military withdrew from the Philippines it left behind a deadly legacy in the form of toxic contamination of its former bases. Concerns about environmental problems at U.S. military bases are neither recent nor limited to countries in the Asia Pacific. In the Philippines, this issue is better understood in the context of nearly a century of presence by the U.S. military.
President Estrada, during his recent visit to the United States of America, signed a Joint Statement for bilateral cooperation of the Environment and Public Health, with President Clinton. Although it is still too early to rejoice given the U.S. hesitancy to take responsibility for military base contamination, recent developments show that the campaign to clean up former U.S. military bases in the Philippines is gaining momentum.

Background

By 1901 the U.S. had designated a U.S. Naval Facility at Subic. Clark Air Force Base was established a few decades later. Both of these military installations were strategically valuable to the U.S., playing important roles during the Korean and Vietnam wars. In 1947, the Military Bases Agreement (MBA) and the Military Assistance Agreement were signed between the U.S. and the Philippines. Under the MBA, the U.S. had a 99 year lease on the bases. The Rusk-Ramos Agreement of 1966 reduced the duration of the lease and moved the expiration date of the MBA to 1991. The New Philippine Constitution of 1987 further made the existence of foreign military bases in the Philippines beyond 1991 subject to the approval of the Philippine Senate. The MBA expired on September 16, 1991, and the Philippine Senate rejected a proposed bases treaty with the U.S., paving the way for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from the Philippines. The U.S. military had withdrawn from Clark Air Force Base earlier in 1991, as a result of the Mount Pinatubo eruption, which enveloped the base in ash and dust. By November 1992 Subic Naval Base and other U.S. bases had been closed, bringing to an end the long chapter of permanent U.S. military presence in the Philippines.

The problems connected with the bases however, did not disappear with the withdrawal of U.S. troops. The former U.S. military bases present serious threats to the environment and to the public health of communities residing in and around these facilities. At Clark Air Force Base, 21 out of 24 locations sampled for water, had at least one pollutant that exceeded drinking water standards. Contaminants such as mercury have been detected in the sediments of Subic Bay, which is still being used for fishing. One of the worst affected communities consists of former residents of CABCOM, the former Motor Pool of Clark Air Force Base and the evacuation site for approximately 20,000 families after the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo. Disproportionately high numbers of children born while their mothers were in CABCOM show health problems. The commitment of local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in addressing this issue led to the formation of the People's Task Force for Bases Clean-up (PTFBC-Philippines) in 1994. Concerned citizens in the United States established the U.S. Working Group for Philippine Base Clean-up (USWG). Both are now part of the Filipino American Coalition for Environmental Solutions (FACES).

Role of the U.S. - Philippine Government

The U.S. claims to be under no obligation to clean up the bases under the 1988 amendment to the MBA. Since 1990, NGOs, investigative reporters, independent scientists and the General Accounting Office (GAO) of the U.S. Congress have raised concerns about environmental problems at the bases. A 1992 GAO report on "Military Base Closures: U.S. Financial Obligation in the Philippines" detailed "significant environmental damage" at the former U.S. military bases leading to a series of conversations between representatives of U.S. NGOs and the Affairs at the U.S. State Department. The issue of liability however was considered "moot" with the Philippine Senate's rejection of the bases treaty. Around the same time the World Health Organization (WHO) Mission Report identified a number of sites within Subic as being contaminated or having a high priority for potential contamination.

The Philippine Government, on its part, has been averse to taking a confrontational stance on this issue. More recently, after years of persistent lobbying by NGOs and environmental groups, the Philippine Government in September 1999, acknowledged the presence of toxic contamination in areas previously occupied by U.S. military forces. President Estrada created an inter-agency task force in January 2000 to look into the toxic contamination issue and to work on U.S. cooperation. military forces. President Estrada created an inter-agency task force in January 2000 to look into the toxic contamination issue and to work on U.S. cooperation. More recently, after years of persistent lobbying by NGOs and environmental groups the Philippine Government in September 1999 acknowledged the presence of toxic contamination in areas previously occupied by U.S. Office of Philippine Affairs atAffairs at the U.S. State Department. The issue of liability however was considered "moot" with the Philippine Senate's rejection of the bases treaty. Around the same time the World Health Organization (WHO) Mission Report identified a number of sites within Subic as being contaminated or having a high priority for potential contamination.

President Clinton in 1994, responding to a question on contamination at the former Clark Air Force Base, stated that the U.S. was working with the Philippine Government and would continue to do so. As a follow up, then United States Secretary of State, Warren Christopher stated in a November 1986 meeting with Philippine Foreign Secretary, Domingo Saizon Jr., that the U.S. was ready to assist the Philippines with regard to the clean-up of former military facilities in the Philippines provided that no legal action be taken against the U.S. Government. The optimism that this generated was to be unfounded. Since that time the U.S. has not provided a cent of assistance to the Philippine Government towards bases cleanup. The Philippine Health Secretary Dr. Jaime Tan's request for medical help was met by the response that the Philippine Government would have to pay for all U.S. technical and medical assistance.

The Philippine Government, on its part, has been averse to taking a confrontational stance on this issue. More recently, after years of persistent lobbying by NGOs and environmental groups, the Philippine Government in September 1999, acknowledged the presence of toxic contamination in areas previously occupied by U.S. military forces. President Estrada created an inter-agency task force in January 2000 to look into the toxic contamination issue and to work on U.S. cooperation. military forces. President Estrada created an inter-agency task force in January 2000 to look into the toxic contamination issue and to work on U.S. cooperation. More recently, after years of persistent lobbying by NGOs and environmental groups the Philippine Government in September 1999 acknowledged the presence of toxic contamination in areas previously occupied by U inter-agency task force in January 2000 to look into the toxic contamination issue and to work on U.S. cooperation. Correspondence between Foreign Secretary Saizon and Secretary of State Albright earlier this year revealed that although Albright acknowledged the "serious public health and environmental problems," the U.S. maintains that it has no legal obligation to clean up its former military bases under the MBA. In what has been hailed a "meaningful breakthrough" by some, Albright instructed U.S. Embassy officials in Manila to explore how to extend technical and financial assistance for "environmental and health" concerns caused by hazardous wastes.

In April 2000, the U.S. panel met with its Department of Foreign Affairs counterparts in what is supposed to be the first in a series of meetings. Soon after, a nine member U.S. delegation led by Gary Vest of the Department of Defense (DOD) met with the Philippine inter-agency task force on bases clean-up. Vest made it clear that the U.S. had no liability and their cooperation would not include specific clean-up. He added that the U.S. would extend technical assistance in the form of how to approach problems of soil and groundwater contamination, wherever they may occur.

Recent Developments

There are positive signs of cooperation between the two governments. However, given the track record of both the U.S. and the Philippine Government one has to be wary of the rhetoric. The U.S. Government's agreement to participate in a bilateral committee may be an exercise in public relations directed at undermining the critics of U.S. policies.

The Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) that was signed by the Philippines and the U.S. on March 11, 1998, and later ratified by the Philippine Senate allows a resumption of long postponed joint military exercises between the two countries. Unfortunately, the renewed U.S. interest in the Philippines has not resulted in much needed U.S. assistance to clean up the bases or to deal with the health problems afflicting the communities. The recent signing of the Joint Statement for Bilateral Cooperation may be just another U.S. tactic to avoid taking responsibility for bases clean-up. Even though the Philippine Government wanted to include in the Joint Statement specific provisions pertaining to the bases clean-up and its environmental impact, the Clinton administration dug its heels against such an inclusion. The Joint Statement as it was signed on July 27, 2000, does not include "military installations" in its text and instead is broad and general in its scope.

Anticipating President Estrada's recent trip to the U.S., the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops wrote to President Clinton urging him to take decisive leadership in cleaning up the environmental contamination at the former U.S. military bases in the Philippines. The Catholic Bishops join the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), which in its 212th General Assembly (2000) approved a resolution expressing concern for the issue of toxic contamination and environmental clean-up at the U.S. bases and calling on the U.S. Government to provide financial assistance and additional support.

The Filipino/American Coalition for Environmental Solutions (FACES) had sent President Estrada an Open Letter prior to his U.S. trip reminding him that the visit provided an opportunity to right a wrong and to demand from the U. S. Government dedicated funds for clean-up amongst other things. FACES also sent a Sign On letter to President Clinton requesting that the U.S. take responsibility for bases cleanup in the Philippines and to incorporate such a commitment in the Joint Statement. Organizations and individuals from across the U.S. signed both these letters.

The Philippine Government may have finally acknowledged the injustice because of pressure by the local NGOs. President Estrada in his meeting with Christina Leano of FACES mentioned that his government would like to help the toxic waste victims but did not have the funds for it. In the absence of immediate funds being committed by the U.S. and a lack of funding on the Philippine side, the plight of the toxic waste victims goes unheeded.

During the last few months 86 Filipinos, whose health has been affected by bases at Clark and Subic have signed and filed petitions asking the U.S. Government to comply with its own environmental laws by performing a Preliminary Assessment and Site Inspection within one year. The U.S. Government has nearly a year to answer the above petition and its answer should be revealing of its intent in dealing with this issue. Last month more than 400 victims of toxic waste contamination in the Philippines named President Estrada's office and the Philippine Department of Defense, Health, Environment and Social Welfare as the top government agencies responsible for causing numerous deaths and tremendous suffering. The victims are claiming 52 billion pesos from the Philippine Government on grounds of gross negligence and violation of local laws. The victims are also demanding from the US$102 billion from the Department of Defense, the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Navy for their role in the toxic contamination.

Some members of Congress support the grassroots effort. Influential U.S. Senator Richard Lugar (R-Ind.) and U.S. Delegate Robert Underwood (Guam) have introduced separate resolutions calling on Congress to address the issue. The U.S. should show support for international human rights by taking an active role in providing assistance to affective communities and by assisting with the clean-up of its former bases.

Suggested actions:

A sample letter follows; please personalize your letter as much as possible.

Addresses:

The Honorable _______
U.S. Senate
Washington, DC 20510
The Honorable ________
U.S House of
Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Senator/Representative____________

I/We am/are seriously concerned with the deteriorating environmental and public health conditions at the former U.S. military bases in the Philippines. I/We strongly believe that the toxic waste left behind by the U.S. military on their withdrawal has caused serious damage to the environment and health of the people.

In 1991, the permanent presence of the U.S. military finally came to an end after nearly a century. However, with the signing and ratification of the Visiting Forces Agreement by the Philippine Senate in 1998-1999, long postponed joint U.S.-Philippine military exercises have been resumed. Despite these joint military exercises, the actions of the U.S. Government do not reflect a genuine concern for the well being of the Filipinos. Instead of taking an active role in assisting the Philippine Government in dealing with this issue, the U.S. Government has maintained a policy of no liability and considers the point "moot" on account of the 1991 refusal by the Philippine Senate to renew the Military Bases Agreement.

Studies by the General Accounting Office, the U.S. Department of Defense, and the World Health Organization have revealed unsafe levels of contaminants in numerous sites on or surrounding the former military installations. According to U.S. Delegate to the House of Representatives, Robert Underwood, (Guam) "the U.S. has a moral obligation to the Philippines to cooperate in ameliorating this environmental degradation. Not only are the lives of numerous families at stake, but our actions should be considered within the larger scope of U.S. - Philippine relations."

I/We encourage you to support the resolution of Delegate Underwood (H. Con. Res. 355) / U.S. Senator Richard Lugar (R-Ind.) (S. 2382) which expresses the sense of the Congress regarding environmental contamination and health effects emanating from the former United States military facilities in the Philippines.

Sincerely,

General Assembly guidance:

The 212th General Assembly (2000) statement on "Toxic Waste in the Philippines" expressed strong concern for the serious environmental and health problems caused by toxic waste left behind by the U.S. in the former military bases in the Philippines (Clark Air Force and Subic Naval). It also called for the U.S. to provide the necessary assistance in the environmental clean-up.