THE Senate yesterday passed on third and final reading the bill prohibiting the development, production, stockpiling, and use of chemical weapons in the country.
Senate Bill No. 2871, or the proposed Chemical Weapons Prohibition Act (CWPA) was approved by 22 senators in favor, zero against, and no abstentions.
Senate pro tempore Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada, author of SBN 2871, said the measure will make the Philippines fully compliant with the United Nations Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling, and Use of Chemical Weapons, and their Destruction.
The Senate concurred with the ratification of the convention on August 19, 1996 but has yet to enact the enabling law that is required to fully enforce the objectives of the Chemical Weapons Convention.
Estrada thanked his colleagues for supporting the passage of the measure.
“Thirty-one years after the Philippines signed the Chemical Weapons Convention, and 28 years since the Senate concurred in the ratification of the same, finally we are one step closer to fulfilling our commitment of enacting a national legislation to fully implement its provisions and join the international community in the ongoing efforts to completely eliminate chemical weapons and prohibit its use,” Estrada said.
“Today, this institution demonstrates its dedication to global disarmament and non-proliferation of weapons of mass destructions, and strengthen existing regulatory policies to prevent utilization and diversion of chemicals for terrorism and non-peaceful purposes,” he added.
Sen. Ronald dela Rosa said the approval of the measure is a testament to the Senate’s commitment towards fulfilling its obligations as a signatory to the chemical weapons conventions and sends a strong signal to the international community that the Philippines is one with the vision of a chemical weapons-free world.
“The passage of this measure is also timely tribute to the victims of chemical warfare as the international community recently observed the day of remembrance for all victims of chemical warfare,” said Dela Rosa, who is a co-sponsor and co-author of the measure.