PH reaffirms ‘strong commitment’ vs. chemical weapons threats

MANILA – Philippine Ambassador to the Netherlands J. Eduardo Malaya reaffirmed to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) the Philippines’ strong commitment to disarmament and non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, notably chemical weapons through a ceremonial signing and exchange of letters.

Malaya turned over the Philippine government’s contribution of USD15,000 or approximately PHP726,000 to the Trust Fund for a Center for Chemistry and Technology on April 9.

“I commend the work of the OPCW and its vision to establish the ChemTech Centre, which aims to strengthen the Organisation’s capability against new and emerging chemical weapons threats and support capacity building among OPCW Member States,” Malaya said in a news release on Thursday.

Director-General Fernando Arias, representing OPCW, thanked the Philippine government and noted that “the Philippine contribution advances the establishment of the ChemTech Centre which will be a centerpiece for research, analysis, and training for all Member States”.

The Center is currently planned to become operational at the end of 2022.

As the implementing body for the Chemical Weapons Convention, the OPCW, with its 193 Member States, oversees the global endeavor to permanently eliminate chemical weapons.

Since the Convention’s entry into force in 1997, it is the most successful disarmament treaty eliminating an entire class of weapons of mass destruction.

Over 98 percent of all declared chemical weapon stockpiles have been destroyed under OPCW verification. For its extensive efforts in eliminating chemical weapons, the OPCW received the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize. (PR)