FILE PHOTO: Some of the container vans from Canada (Senate Photos)
MANILA, Philippines — The Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources will invite members of the inter-agency task force that allowed the Canadian wastes to be disposed in the country.
Senators said the decision of the agency, composed of DFA, DENR, BOC AND DOJ, is questionable.
The senators also want to convince the agency to return the wastes to Canada.
The DENR earlier said they want to send back the wastes but the inter-agency decided to just dispose it in the country.
The Philippine government has sent communication to the Canadian government regarding the issue; but Canadian authorities said they do not have domestic laws to compel shippers to return exported containers.
“Sana mas naging matindi, mabigat yung position ng ating gobyerno, para maski papano naramdaman ng Canada na uy galit sila… uy di sila papayag dito… Ang nangyari parang naging ordinaryong negosasyon… Dapat hindi tayo nakikiusap dito,” said Sen. Francis Escudero, chairman of Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources.
(The Philippine government should have a firm stand on the issue so they [Canadian authorities] would know we do not allow it. But what happened was just like an ordinary negotiation. We should not even appeal to them on this.)
The DFA also explained that returning the containers to Canada will entail a long process.
“Our preferred option is for the containers to be sent back. However, in our inter-agency meeting, if we pursue legal action it would take several years. And we have to take note of immediate concerns. We came up with second alternative, that is, local disposition,” said Jesus Domingo, assistant secretary of United Nations and Other International Organizations (UNIO).
The senate also questioned DENR’s findings saying the wastes are not toxic and hazardous at all.
“But the evidence is not conclusive and we want their conclusive findings on the 103 containers of wastes dumped in the country,” insisted Sen. Escudero who asked for DENR’s conclusive findings on their examination of the wastes.
Recyclable materials are allowed entry in the Philippines in support of the recycling industry but this should not contain municipal wastes such as diapers and other contaminants.
Several environmental groups said the DENR did not thoroughly examine the containers from Canada as these contained wastes and diapers that possibly came from hospitals.
The senate also ordered DENR to submit the list of recyclable materials allowed entry into the country to prevent recurrence of the same issue. (DARLENE BASINGAN / UNTV News)
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