MANILA, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- The Philippine government said Monday that it will gradually reduce the importation and use of an ozone-depleting substance called hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) starting January 2013.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said in a statement that HCFCs are usually found in foam sprays, fire extinguishers, solvents, and industrial and residential air conditioning units.
Environment Secretary Ramon Paje said that starting 2013, the Philippines will freeze the importation of HCFCs at the 2010 base level of 162 ozone depleting potential (ODP) tons. This will then be reduced by 10 percent starting 2015; by 35 percent in 2020; 67. 5 percent in 2025 and by 97.5 percent in 2030. The substance will be banned in 2040.
Paje said the phase-out of HCFCs will be the last for the Philippines, having already successfully completed the phase-out of other types of chlorofluorocarbons including halon, carbon tetracholoride, methyl chloroform and methyl bromide.
The Philippines is a signatory to the Montreal Protocol, an international environmental agreement under which member-countries are committed to gradually reducing and eventually eliminating the production and consumption of eight identified ozone-depleting substances through their respective phase-out schedules.
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