09 October 2014, Manila –
In a damning exposé of the government’s lack of political will,
environmental and public health groups held a press conference today to uncover
the plan of government agencies to dispose of the illegally dumped Canadian
toxic wastes in the Philippines.
The groups revealed that several government
agencies led by the Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Environment
and Natural Resources, and Bureau of Customs are keen on disposing the
illegally dumped Canadian toxic waste in the country instead of fighting to
have it sent back to Canada for violating international law.
"I will not tolerate
this matter sitting down. As a legislator, I filed for a Congressional Inquiry
in aid of legislation the unlawful importation of the 50 container vans filled
with garbage. Clearly, this (dumping of wastes in our country) is a reflection
of our dignity as a nation,” said Rep. Leah Paquiz of Ang Nars Party-list.
Earlier this year, the Bureau of Customs
(BOC) seized 50 container vans containing various waste materials and hazardous
wastes imported from Canada, with the consignee Chronic Plastics, Inc.
declaring the shipment as ‘assorted scrap plastic materials for recycling’.
Last month, 16 container vans have been sent to Subic Port to ease the
congested Port of Manila.
“The unauthorized movement
of the illegal shipments to Subic is proof thatplans are afoot to have the
waste shipments disposed in country. Theletter from the DENR reinforces and
confirms this duplicitous intent onthe part of our government
authorities. We find it outrageous that theprimary government agency
mandated to protect the environment is the maininstigator of the proposal to
have these illegal waste shipments disposedof in our shores. Why should
Filipino taxpayers bear the burden associatedwith this illegal shipment?” said
Von Hernandez, president of EcoWaste Coalition and executive director of
Greenpeace Southeast Asia.
“This
government proposal sends a signal tounscrupulous and illegal waste traders to
ship their unwanted junk to thePhilippines. There can be no compromises here,
this garbage shipment mustbe sent back to Canada, its country of origin. The
Philippine governmentmust do everything it can to prevent these incidents from
happening ever
again in the future, and it can start doing that by ratifying the BaselBan Amendment.” Hernandez added.
again in the future, and it can start doing that by ratifying the BaselBan Amendment.” Hernandez added.
The groups decry that allowing the toxic
waste shipment to be disposed of in Philippine territory will set a wrong
precedent for other countries to follow suit.
They fear that the country is being primed to be the world’s toxic waste
dumping site in the guise of “green jobs” for recycling.
“Illegal toxic waste trade is an
international crime. It is no different from dealing in illegal drugs,
endangered species, and other forms of trade that the international community
has deemed noxious,” explained Atty. Richard Gutierrez, executive director of
BAN Toxics.
“Why our government is even contemplating on
accepting these illegal wastes when international law is behind us is
exasperating.” Gutierrez added.
The importation violates a number of local
laws such as the DENR Administrative Order 28 (Interim Guidelines for the
Importation of Recyclable Materials Containing Hazardous Substances) and
Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.
It also violates the Basel Convention, which
prohibits illegal toxic waste trade and mandates such trade to be considered a
criminal act. The Convention also requires the exporting country, in this case
Canada, to return the illegally seized shipment and to pay the costs for the
return.
“Pick up your garbage
Canada, and show us the decency that we so rightfully deserve as a nation. My
motherland is not a garbage bin of Canada. " Paquiz said.
In an effort to gain public attention on the
issue, the coalition filed an online petition on change.org[i] that
drew 23,600 signers, more than half of which are Canadians. The group is
encouraging more people to sign the online petition to appeal and urge the
Canadian embassy in the Philippines to facilitate the pick up and return of the
garbage back to the Canadian soil.
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