BOC creates unit to monitor illegal entry of hazardous wastes

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has created a unit that will monitor the illegal shipment of hazardous wastes into the country.

In a statement Friday, Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero signed Customs Memorandum Order No. 38-2019 which creates the Environmental Protection and Compliance Division (ECPD).

The ECPD, which is under the BOC’s Enforcement and Security Service, is tasked to handle “the processing of shipments of hazardous substances, waste products, nuclear wastes, recyclable products or substances under the regulatory control of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).”

The unit is also mandated to recommend the issuance of alert orders and pre-lodgment control orders against shipments which could contain items in violation of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA) and environmental laws.

ECPD is also tasked to probe cases on the illegally shipped garbage and “make recommendations for prosecution” in violation of the CMTA and environmental rules and regulations.

To recall, 37 trash-filled container vans from Canada were illegally shipped to the Philippines in 2013 and 2014.

In May this year, 25,510 kilos of garbage from Hong Kong and Australia were discovered to have been shipped to the country.  /muf

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