Korea takes back garbage shipment

MANILA, Philippines - Some 2,500 metric tons of garbage dumped in Cebu on Jan. 20 have been shipped back to South Korea.

Verne Enciso, Bureau of Customs-Port of Cebu Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service intelligence officer, said the cargo ship M/V Christina left the port at past 5 a.m. on Wednesday.

Enciso said 1,700 metric tons of wood chips that were placed atop the bales of plastic garbage remained at the Port of Cebu.

“The wood chips would be auctioned after the Department of Environment and Natural Resources found out that it was not hazardous,” he said.

Enciso said he was not aware of the total amount of fines and fees that Neo Green Bio Co. Ltd. paid while M/V Christina was in the country. The ship was fined $4,000 or P216,000 a day aside from berthing, anchorage and docking fees for 54 days.

Enciso said the license of the importer, Moving Forward Global Trading Inc., had been suspended.

Tests conducted by the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) on Feb. 8 showed that the shipment contains various plastic bags and materials, including toothbrush handles.

Enciso said it took almost two months before the garbage was shipped back to Korea because the Mandaue City enviroment and natural resources office and EMB had to ensure that those  stored in a warehouse in Barangay Tingub had been removed.

The hauling of the garbage to the cargo ship took time, he said.