Pimentel files bill vs ‘alien wastes’

SENATOR Koko Pimentel said he has filed a bill that prohibits foreign countries to import trash in the country amid the controversial garbage wastes from South Korea being dumped in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental.

Pimentel said it will be soon unlawful to import trash from foreign countries into the Philippines, even under the guise of converting the garbage to energy as this set-up is considered a loophole.

“Kung mag garbage to energy tayo, we must use garbage na locally produced. We do not import garbage to convert it to energy, kasi nagiging tapunan tayo ng basura. Bawal yun kahit ganun yung story mo, no, we should use local garbage,” he added.

Pimentel also agreed that there should be a diplomatic protest against South Korea, just like what actions were taken against the Canadian trash.

He said the country should pressure South Korea to take back their trash.

“Siguro ang number one, tama yun na through diplomatic channels, mag-protesta na tayo. Ako yung Canadian ambassador, I told him to take it back, masyado silang good image na advance kayo on human rights, sa fairness, social justice, environmental, pero ang trash niyo, ilabay sa laing nasud? Dapat consistent, so ganun dapat tayo sa South Korea, we should also protest,” he added.

The return of the remaining 5,000 metric tons of garbage docked at the Mindanao International Container Terminal is still uncertain.

In a congressional hearing in Cagayan de Oro City, it was disclosed that the mother company of the trash importer Verde Soko is no longer existing, making it unclear who will shoulder the expenses of its return shipment. Also, officials of Verde Soko failed to attend the hearings set to clarify their position on the remaining garbage in Tagoloan town.