Canada trash to sail 'sooner than later' — Palace
MANILA, Philippines — The remaining containers of garbage from Canada will soon sail back to the North American country, Malacañang said Tuesday.
Hundreds of containers of waste were illegally dumped in the Philippines between 2013 and 2014. At least 69 containers are still in the country.
Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said a private shipping company will take the trash back to Canada.
"The [Department of Foreign Affairs] issued a statement that the Canadian government has already directed a shipping company to get the trash back and, according to them, it will be sooner than later," Panelo said in a press briefing.
Last week, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. recalled Philippine diplomats after Canada missed the deadline to take back the containers of trash.
"At midnight last night, letters for the recall of our ambassador and consuls to Canada went out. They are expected here in a day or so. Canada missed the May 15 deadline," Locsin tweeted on May 15.
The Philippines' top diplomat said the country will maintain a diminished diplomatic presence in Canada until the garbage issue is resolved.
"When the president speaks as he did to the extent of 'declaring war on Canada' for its garbage here, he is to be taken seriously and not metaphorically; at least I do because I do not think I know better than he does. Some of his officials do," Locsin said in a separate tweet. — Patricia Lourdes Viray
A private Canadian company shipped more than 100 containers of household waste to Manila in 2013 and 2014 and have since stayed. (Bureau of Customs photo)
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teddy Locsin Jr. tells pulled out envoys in Canada to return to their posts following the repatriation of the 69 containers of trash to the North American country.
"To our recalled posts, get your flights back. Thanks and sorry for the trouble you went through to drive home a point," Locsin says in a tweet.
One more tweet.
— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) May 31, 2019
To our recalled posts, get your flights back. Thanks and sorry for the trouble you went through to drive home a point.
Arrevederci!
And thank you
Canada CDA Mucci.
I always end with a rhyme.
The ship M/V Bavaria leaves the Philippines to return to Canada the 69 containers of toxic waste after six years.
The ship tasked to transport the garbage arrived at the Subic Bay Freeport at 2:40 p.m. Thursday.
Trash from Canada will be shipped back on Thursday, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra says in a statement to reporters.
Guevarra has been designated officer-in-charge in the absence of President Rodrigo Duterte, who is in Japan for an official visit.
"The cost of reshipment from Manila to Vancouver, estimated at P10 million, will be shouldered by the Canadian government. The container vans will be loaded on vessels owned by three shipping companies," he also says.
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