Philippines insists on sending back trash to Canada first
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines rejected Canada's latest move of hiring a private company to take back the remaining containers of garbage illegally dumped to the country years ago.
Canadian Minister of Environment Catherine McKenna announced that their government has awarded a contract to Bolloré Logistics Canada to repatriate the 69 containers of waste from the Philippines.
In a May 22 news released, the Canadian government said the shipping will be complete by the end of June.
President Rodrigo Duterte will not allow the process to take until next month, presidential spokespersen Salvador Panelo said Thursday.
"'Di ba ang sabi nila it will take about end of June pa? Hindi papayag si presidente doon and I understand from (Finance) Secretary (Carlos) Dominguez that malapit nang padala," Panelo said in a press briefing.
The Malacañang spokesman added that the garbage will be sent back the "soonest."
"It could be this week or week after. Definitely not the end of June," Panelo said.
According to the Canadian government, the waste would have to undergo treatment to meet their country's safe and health requirements.
Ottawa said it would cover all the costs associated with the preparation, transfer, shipment and disposal of the waste.
"Canada values its deep and longstanding relationship with the Philippines and has been working closely with Filipino authorities to find a solution that is mutually acceptable," McKenna said.
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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