Palace: Philippines not a ‘dumping ground for trash’

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines is not a “dumping ground for trash,” Malacañang said Friday after container vans of garbage from Hong Kong were found at the Mindanao International Container Terminal (MICT) in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental.

“We commend the Bureau of Customs (BOC) for the early detection of the entry of mixed plastic wastes, which have been declared “assorted electronic accessories” from Hong Kong into
Misamis Oriental, Philippines,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a statement.

Panelo said the “BOC would export this illegal shipment back to its port of origin.”

The piles of garbage from Hong Kong were found after tons of garbage from Australia were also sent to the same port.

READ: Australia trash ‘offends’ Philippines

“We call on concerned agencies of the government to continue exercising vigilance and hinder the entry of such shipments of garbage into our territorial jurisdiction at the first instance,” Panelo said.

“The Palace reiterates the firm position of the Republic of the Philippines that it will not allow its territory to be treated as a dumping ground for trash by any foreign country or entity,” he added.

The trash from Hong Kong and Australia came as the government is sending back tons of garbage from Canada, which was illegally shipped to the Philippines six years ago. (Editor: Eden Estopace)

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