MANILA – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Tuesday said the trash shipments sent to the Philippines five years ago are heading back to Canada on May 30.
DFA Secretary Teodoro Locsin, Jr. confirmed the impending return of trash to Canada.
“All containers containing garbage were cleaned and ready to go. Waiting for a couple of documents and routine permission from China for transshipment to Canada,” Locsin said. “Departure is May 30.”
President Rodrigo Duterte recently ordered the return of Canada’s trash a week after it missed the deadline in taking back the garbage it exported to the Philippines in 2013 and 2014.
A total of 103 containers of Canadian wastes, consisting of household trash, plastic bottles and bags, newspapers, and used adult diapers, were shipped to Manila in batches.
Chronic Plastics Inc., the consignee of the trash shipment, was accused of violating Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act and the 1995 Basel convention on the transboundary movement of hazardous wastes and disposal.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said during his visit to Manila two years ago, that Ottawa was already working on the issue but the trash remained in the country until now.
Following Canada’s continued inaction, Locsin ordered the recall of several ranking Philippine officials in Canada, a sign of the Philippines’ readiness to end its decades-old diplomatic ties with the foreign country. /PN
