THE foreign plastic waste that was dumped in Barangay Tingub was finally removed yesterday, almost two weeks after the Mandaue City Government found out about it.
The trucks that hauled the trash made 30 trips to Pier 4 in Cebu City, where the ship that will bring it back to Jeju, South Korea was docked.
According to the City Public Information Office, the hauling took place past 9 a.m.
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) earlier said that the Korean shipping company tapped three trucking companies in Cebu to take the trash out from Mandaue.
Glenn Antigua, chief for operations of the Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue (Team), said four Team personnel joined City Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro) staff to ensure that all foreign waste in Tingub was pulled out and sent to the port area.
“Gi-guide kada truck to ensure nga way truck mosibat (We accompanied all the trucks to Pier 4 to ensure that the waste will reach its destination),” Antigua said.
When SunStar Cebu called Antigua past 4 p.m. yesterday, he said port officials instructed them to stop the operation temporarily due to traffic.
“Posible padayon ugma (It might resume today),” he said.
Verne Enciso, chief of Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service, said loading the waste will take between 24 and 48 hours.
Mv Christina will carry the waste back to South Korea.
By the time the ship leaves Cebu, the Philippine Coast Guard will assist the vessel.
Enciso said they requested PCG to escort the ship to make sure that the waste is not dumped in another part of the country.
Team and Cenro personnel wore masks to keep them safe, Antigua said.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environmental Management Bureau 7 had discovered that the synthetic resin, or the plastic waste, that was dumped in Tingub is “highly hazardous.”
Carlo Cabahug, research and planning officer of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDDRMO), said they will discuss the matter with CDRRMO Head Felix Suico.
The BOC had said the consignee declared the cargo from Korea as wood chips and recyclable resin.
BOC decided to auction the wood chips and send the recyclable resins back to Korea.
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