Probe sought on burning of Korean trash

MISDECLARED SHIPMENT Customs officials are preparing the reexportation of the pile of mostly plastic trash that was imported from South Korea and stored at Phividec Industrial Estate facility in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental. JIGGER J. JERUSALEM

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY –– Misamis Oriental Rep. Juliette Uy has sought an investigation on the burning Monday, August 12, of a portion of the heap of Korean trash owned by a plastic recycling facility in Tagoloan town of Misamis Oriental.

In a statement, Uy said those responsible for the incident “is sabotaging our lawful efforts to enforce our country’s anti-pollution laws.”

“Now, they have made matters worse by polluting the air in Misamis Oriental with the toxic fumes from the burning of the garbage,” Uy added.

The over 5,000 metric tons of trash are set for repatriation to South Korea following a pledge by the South Korean embassy several days back.

These were part of more than 50,000 metric tons of garbage illegally shipped into the country.

A local radio also reported that Phividec Industrial Authority (PIA) Administrator Franklin Quijano has also ordered a probe into the incident.

PIA runs the Phividec Industrial Estate within which the Verde Soko Corp. recycling facility is located.