Various groups from the local scientific community on Thursday demanded the resignation of Environment Undersecretary Benny Antiporda for his disparaging remarks against scientists from the University of the Philippines (UP), particularly its Marine Science Institute (MSI).
Antiporda on Wednesday called UP MSI researchers 鈥渂ayaran鈥� (paid hacks) who had no right to criticize the P389-million Manila Bay beach nourishment project, which includes overlaying a tiny strip of the kilometerslong shore with pulverized dolomite from Cebu.
His remarks raised questions about his credentials as an environmental official and drew attention to the state of scientific research in the country.
鈥淲hen science proves inconvenient to Duterte and his lackeys, they are quick to attack and undermine Filipino scientists,鈥� the Advocates of Science and Technology for the People (Agham), a national organization of scientists, engineers, researchers and science educators, said in a statement.
鈥淲e demand that [Antiporda] be removed from his post due to unnecessary and vile antipathy he is courting against the local science community,鈥� the group said, adding: 鈥淭he Filipino science community direly needs support, not hostility, from the government.鈥�
In a statement last month, UP MSI outlined the issues in Manila Bay and stressed that the dolomite 鈥渟and鈥� would not solve the cause of the heavily polluted bay鈥檚 environmental problems.
鈥楥辞苍蝉耻濒迟补苍肠测鈥�
Citing his own 鈥渞esearch,鈥� Antiporda said the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) had paid 鈥渉alf a billion pesos鈥� to the UP MSI since 2016 for mere consultations. He added that even with that amount, no 鈥渋nfrastructure鈥� was built.
But the country鈥檚 national institute for marine sciences said it received P364 million, not P500 million, for 10 projects with the DENR over the past decade.
It said the money supported projects involving the nationwide standardized assessments of the National Integrated Protected Areas Systems sites, enhancing capacity for management and rehabilitation of marine ecosystems and strengthening the understanding of Philippine waters, including the West Philippine Sea and the Benham Rise.
Laura David, the UP MSI director, said Antiporda might not have been familiar with the DENR鈥檚 contract with UP. 鈥淣one of it is consultancy,鈥� she said.
In various interviews on Thursday, Antiporda apologized to the UP community, but kept on taking swipes at MSI.
鈥淭his is not to destroy the good name of the university, but this is to send the message to UP MSI that we are partners here,鈥� he said in a television interview.
鈥淲hat we are expecting is for you to call us, or even text us or even write a letter to the secretary 鈥� [but] you went straight to the media, destroying the good name of the DENR.鈥�
The institute did not seek the media but only posted its statement on its website.
鈥淪cientists stand by our science. Whatever we discover or learn, we share it to the public鈥攖hat is part of being a scientist, and as part of the UP community,鈥� David said.
Asked why the DENR did not consult UP MSI or other institutes in UP Diliman on the dolomite project, Antiporda said: 鈥淲e are partners in projects where we pay them.鈥�
The Geographic Society of the University of the Philippines said Antiporda鈥檚 behavior was unacceptable for a government official.
鈥淐onsidering your ill-fitting background for the job as well as your disregard for the opinions of other Filipino scientists, we call on you to formally retract your statements against the UP MSI and to resign from your position as undersecretary, as both a form of accountability and to give way for other, better qualified candidates to work in the department,鈥� the group said.
Only Duterte can decide
Antiporda, however, dismissed calls for his resignation, saying only President Duterte, who had appointed him, could make him quit.
One consequence of his rants against the marine scientists and critics of the Manila Bay beautification project was the renewed focus on the dire state of science and research and development in the country, with Filipino scientists sharing their experiences on social media.
鈥淐urrently, we have very little researchers per million Filipinos, well behind neighbors in the Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations),鈥� Agham said. 鈥淕ross expenditures in research and development stand at only 0.16 percent of the gross domestic product, very far from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization standard at 1 percent.鈥�
Timothy James Cipriano, a graduate student at the UP Department of Geography, said that funds for research projects do not go directly to the researchers themselves.
鈥楽tages of hell鈥�
鈥淥ur salaries are often delayed due to the institutional bureaucratic processes involved,鈥� the former university researcher said on Twitter. 鈥淭hat process is what we jokingly call as the 鈥榮tages of hell.鈥欌��
Meteorologist Ariel Rojas said that Antiporda鈥檚 comments were an attack, not just against UP MSI, but also against Filipino scientists and science itself.
鈥淒o you know how much sacrifice the Filipino scientist makes? It entails sleep, blood, sweat, our own dreams, and money,鈥� he said on Twitter. 鈥淭he state of science in the country continues to go backwards because of people who insult the contributions of our scientists and of science to our society 鈥� We have been left behind in the Philippines because of the government鈥檚 neglect.鈥�
Since his appointment as undersecretary for solid waste management and local government concerns in 2018, Antiporda has emerged as a lead player in the DENR, often seen as a proxy and mouthpiece of Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu.
He has taken a major role in the cleanup and rehabilitation of Manila Bay, which began in January 2018.
Former tabloid publisher
The former National Press Club president was the publisher of tabloid Remate where he remains a regular columnist. He was also an anchor for the government-operated People鈥檚 Television Network Inc. from 2009 to 2012.
Antiporda also was the director of the Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group from 2007 to 2008 and a director of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority from 2016 to 2018. 鈥擶ITH A REPORT FROM KRIXIA SUBINGSUBING