Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 06MANILA2520, Visiting EPA team advises GRP on chemical emergency

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #06MANILA2520.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
06MANILA2520 2006-06-16 05:04 2011-08-25 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Manila
VZCZCXYZ0001
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHML #2520/01 1670504
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 160504Z JUN 06
FM AMEMBASSY MANILA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1536
INFO RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK 1221
UNCLAS MANILA 002520 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR OES 
STATE ALSO FOR ISN CTR - JASON RAO 
STATE PASS EPA FOR DCUNNINGHAM 
BANGKOK FOR REO JWALLER 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SENV EMIN ETRD TPHY TSPL RP
SUBJECT: Visiting EPA team advises GRP on chemical emergency 
response 
 
REF: A. MANILA 1646 
     B. MANILA 1976 
 
------- 
Summary 
------- 
 
1.  (U) At the request of the GRP and with support from 
Ambassador Kenney, four US Environmental Protection Agency 
(EPA) emergency responders came to Manila to advise on the 
clean up of the high-profile mercury spill at St. Andrew's 
School (refs A,B).  The team trained GRP personnel and 
private contractors to monitor mercury levels and 
sufficiently decontaminate the school.  They also discussed 
chemical emergency response policies and procedures more 
broadly.  As a result of the timely assistance, the GRP 
declared the school as safe and ready to open with the start 
of the new school year in June.  During the team's visit, a 
Congressman filed a bill to ban the use of mercury and other 
hazardous chemicals from all schools in the Philippines. 
Sustained momentum may depend on additional funding.  End 
Summary. 
 
-------------------------- 
Building Response Capacity 
-------------------------- 
 
2.  (U) The GRP determined the school to be mercury-free on 
May 26, with the help of EPA experts Steve Calanog, Philip 
Campagna, Brian Brass and Duane Newell.  The EPA team guided 
the Department of Interior and Local Governance (DILG) 
Special Rescue Unit (SRU), Department of Environment and 
Natural Resources (DENR) Environmental Management Bureau 
(EMB), and private contractors in the clean up of the 
school, training them on use of the equipment, data 
analysis, and proper handling of contaminated materials. 
They helped test mercury levels of furniture, personal 
affects, and air conditioning units.  During the clean up, 
the team found that the elevated levels of mercury stemmed 
from a previous spill in an adjacent room to the most recent 
spill.  The contamination was isolated and resolved by 
removing the floor in the affected classroom.  A private 
company had mostly addressed the most recent spill before 
the team arrived.  A Philippine team also tested the home of 
one of the students who had reportedly took home mercury, 
with the EPA team providing advice and guidance from a 
nearby location.  According to SRU leader Major Embang, the 
team's visit helped boost the confidence of responders who 
had previously been unsure of themselves given their lack of 
prior experience in mercury decontamination. 
 
3.  (U) The EPA team also discussed an Incident Command 
System, which involves policies and procedures to prepare 
for and respond to mercury and other chemical spills from 
incident through clean up and remediation, with the Inter- 
Agency Committee on Environmental Health (IACEH) and the 
National Disaster Coordinating Council.  They advised these 
interagency groups to set Philippine parameters based on the 
unique conditions and factors of this country and develop 
appropriate responses using locally available technologies. 
They provided insights on U.S. chemicals policies and 
environmental standards to safeguard children's health, 
occupational health, and public health of the surrounding 
community.  According to IACEH member Dr. Irma Makalinao, 
the team's visit raised the confidence of officials within 
the Department of Health, DENR, and DILG Occupational Health 
and Safety Center who had previously debated the appropriate 
standards for certifying the school as safe for children and 
potentially pregnant teachers. 
 
4.  (U) According to the EPA team, DENR Secretary Reyes was 
supportive of protecting the environment and promoting the 
mining industry, although he acknowledged the use of mercury 
in mining operations.  He expressed the need to strengthen 
the capacity of the DENR to monitor the environment around 
mines and in mining communities, and adequately address any 
mining-related accidents.  [Note:  Secretary Reyes recently 
allowed Australian mining company Lafayette to resume 
Philippine operations after a chemical spill that occurred 
in October.  He told the press that the GRP would allow only 
responsible mining as a part of sustainable economic 
development.  End Note.] 
 
5.  (U) Congressman Zialcita, whose district includes the 
school, took advantage of the enthusiasm around the EPA 
 
team's visit to announce a bill to ban mercury at all 
schools and public institutions in the Philippines.  Another 
Congressman from an adjacent district also filed a bill to 
create a Philippine Environmental Protection Agency.  The 
purpose of the new agency would be to establish an agency 
with authority to protect the environment against "pollution 
and other impacts occasioned by human activities."  The US 
EPA team expressed concern that there is currently little 
authority to implement prevention and preparedness programs, 
complicated by the disparate groups and agencies given 
partial responsibilities and no additional funding for these 
duties. 
 
--------------------- 
Further Opportunities 
--------------------- 
 
6.  (U) The team identified several follow-on areas that may 
benefit from the expertise of a Science Fellow or other type 
of assistance.  A Fellow might consider assisting the GRP to 
set criteria for site risk assessments or action levels for 
various environmental contaminants and develop other 
environmental regulations and standard operating procedures 
specific to dangerous chemicals.  The team also suggested an 
information campaign or school-based curriculum for handling 
chemicals, and a Fellow may help the DENR develop criteria 
for evaluating schools.  Besides mercury, the team noticed a 
keen interest in oil spill prevention and cleanup, which may 
stem from the recent oil spill on Semirara Island that 
slicked approximately 300 acres of mangrove and beach.  The 
team mentioned the possibility of returning to Manila in 
October for a planned international conference on the 
environment. 
 
------- 
Comment 
------- 
 
7.  (SBU) The team's visit highlighted the need for more 
chemical safety awareness, strengthened chemical safeguards, 
and better preparedness for chemical disasters in the 
Philippines.  The team donated personal protective equipment 
at the end of the visit, which Post will formally present to 
DILG in the coming weeks.  The visit sparked an interest in 
developing programs and standard operating procedures and 
there is great opportunity for USG involvement.  While there 
are many areas for improvement, there was a general sense 
that appropriate agencies needed additional funding to 
develop meaningful, sustainable capacity and adequately 
equip talented professionals. 
 
KENNEY