Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago, chairwoman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said ratification by the Senate of the international agreements meant goodbye to hair spray nets, air conditioners, refrigerators, solvents, cleaners, pesticide, and other industrial products which emit dangerous ozone depleting substances (ODS).

The Montreal Protocol, according to Miriam, provides for a body of regulations to control the production and trade of substances such as choloroflourocarbons and halons that deplete the ozone layer in the Earth’s atmosphere.

Miriam said that the Montreal Amendment introduces a requirement for all state parties to establish import and export licensing systems of ODS.

The Beijing Amendment aims to control the production and consumption of a new group of ozone-depleting substances called bromochloromethane.

Miriam explained that the depletion of the ozone layer allows more ultraviolet radiation to reach the Earth’s surface and can cause increased cases of skin cancer, cataracts, retinal damage, and damage to people’s immune system.

Small increases in ultraviolet radiation also diminish the productivity of important food crops and reduce levels of plankton in the ocean, adversely affecting marine food supplies.

"With the Senate action, the country can now expect technical and finance assistance under the Multilateral Fund to help us phase out ozone-depleting substances," she said.

Miriam said that the implementation of the Montreal Protocol and its succeeding amendments have slowed down the growth of CFCs in the troposphere.