Groups Welcome Assurance Given by BOC for the Re-Export of Korean Garbage by End of the Year
The environmental groups EcoWaste Coalition and
Greenpeace Southeast Asia-Philippines welcomed the assurance made by the Bureau
of Customs (BOC) that the tons of illegally imported garbage from South Korea
will be returned to its origin soon.
Speaking at the protest action organized by the EcoWaste
Coalition last Wednesday, BOC Spokesperson Atty. Erastus Sandino Austria
assured the group and the general public
that necessary steps are being taken by the customs authorities to resolve the
illegal garbage imports from South Korea.
“Message heard, loud and clear,” Austria told the
EcoWaste Coalition, referring to the group’s non-violent action at the Port
Area in Manila to push for the speedy repatriation of the misdeclared garbage
as demanded by the provincial government of Misamis Oriental, the municipal
government of Togoloan, and pro-environment groups.
“On behalf of the BOC, we can say we can send the garbage
out of the country before the end of the year.
Ang isyu na lang kasi dito ay logistics (the only issue here is
logistics)," said Austria. BOC
through the Collection District of Cagayan de Oro, he said, had already
initiated talks with the government of South Korea through its Embassy to fast
track the re-export of the waste shipments to Pyeongtaek City.
“We laud Atty. Austria for accepting our invitation for
him to address our assembly, and for confirming that efforts are underway to
get the Korean garbage shipped back to where it should be. However, we seek a specific date for the
re-export of garbage to Korea. The overstaying garbage from Canada provides a
compelling reason why a defined date should be set and adhered to," she
emphasized.
"We hope that the re-export will not be stalled by
bureaucratic excuses. The BOC must exercise its mandate and be on top of this
issue. It is one thing to recognize the
Filipino people’s clamor to return the South
Korean waste back to its origin, but Filipinos need to be assured, with concrete
actions, that it is actually done this year,” stated Abigail Aguilar,
Campaigner, Greenpeace Southeast Asia-Philippines.
“By the time any probe is conducted by the House of
Representatives or the Senate, we hope the illegal garbage shipments would
already be out of the Philippines and the places where these were dumped safely
cleaned up,” Lucero added.
To date, Senators Koko Pimentel, Nancy Binay and Grace
Poe have filed separate resolutions calling for an inquiry on the matter in aid
of legislation. Iligan City
Representative Fredrick Siao has likewise proposed a Congressional inquiry.
In their letter to BOC Commissioner Rey Guerrero, the
EcoWaste Coalition sought his commitment to get the Korean garbage out of the
Philippine territory before Christmas and not beyond December 31, 2018.
“BOC’s rapid action will send a clear and unequivocal
signal to waste traffickers that the Philippines is taking strong action against illegal waste
export to protect public health and the
environment, and uphold the national dignity and sovereignty,” the group pointed
out.
The EcoWaste Coalition urged Commissioner Guerrero and
the BOC to:
1. Expedite the
process of re-shipping the Korean garbage to its origin as a topmost priority.
2. Hold customs
officers liable for the uploading of the Korean garbage even without
importation clearance.
3. Blacklist the
shipper and charge the consignee for the illegal entry of the Korean garbage.
-end-
Reference:
https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1015599
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xb_qMpshWqg
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