Importing garbage

Whatever vicarious experience I had and what little I know of business transactions had lost their bearing when I heard of tons of garbage being brought to the Philippines from another state. I got confused when news broke out that waste was unloaded from a foreign vessel and found its way to Mandaue City.

I tried to search for any explanation why someone was interested to bring to our country some transnational refuse. For me, there appeared no reason for such an importation. Having said that, I can only assume a devious conclusion; whoever was responsible for bringing that shipload from South Korea to Cebu, few months ago, must have hated Cebuanos very much. In his hatred, he caused the importation of waste so that some, if not most, of us would get sick and eventually die from the poison to our environment How wicked was he!

We know that the usual parties in a Bill of Lading are a carrier, shipper and consignee. The shipper sends his merchandise through the services of a carrier to the consignee. Let’s say the shipper is a manufacturer of televisions, after payment is made, he packs his products and sends them to his buyer. In the bill of lading, the buyer is often designated as consignee. Putting that in context of the trash that recently landed in Cebu, the shipper should be a Korean, and the buyer/consignee should be a Cebuano.

Garbage is never like televisions, in our example. Every day we throw trash away. At home, we get rid of our waste as quickly as we can. So why would a Cebuano import it?

I got information that someone here in Cebu learned that a Korean was willing to pay big to dispose of a huge pile of garbage. The Korean was sending out trash and “whoever” would take it would be paid handsomely.

Information revealed that the person I mentioned above as “whoever” happened to be a Cebuano. To receive the garbage, he would be paid. It was going to be a very lucrative arrangement. He reportedly talked with the city’s powers-that-be and succeeded convincing them the Inayawan landfill, which was closed by the former city administration, was where the garbage could be deposited. It was understandable that the facility was again opened.

Unfortunately, authorities ordered the closure of the landfill. The “whoever” and his patron were shocked to realize that the Korean garbage that already arrived in Cebu had no more destination. It could not anymore be thrown in Inayawan. If grapevine sources are to be believed, the patron had to go to Korea to explain the situation.

In the meantime, they found a place in Mandaue City where the trash could be deposited. But they failed to reckon the incorruptible mind of the mayor who ordered the garbage returned to the shipper. Seemingly, Customs authorities were of the same initial frame of mind. The waste should be sent back to the shipper. Rightly so although, latest news revealed that the garbage was apparently just incinerated.

If there is anything that government authorities should focus their efforts on, it investigating who was responsible for bringing garbage to our land. I believe they will find evidence of corruption!