MANILA, Philippines — Environment advocacy group Greenpeace Southeast Asia – Philippines calls on the government to ban the importation of waste materials, even those considered for recycling like those intercepted in Misamis Oriental which were said to be used as an alternative fuel.
In a statement Thursday (May 23), the group condemned the importation of Australian trash discovered in Misamis Oriental.
“The Australian trash in Misamis Oriental is unacceptable, reprehensible and deplorable. Why do we need to repeatedly remind the world that we are not a garbage dump? The Philippines is still reeling from the issue of Canadian waste that, after more than half a decade, the Canadian government is still not taking responsibility for,” the group said in a statement.
Greenpeace was referring to the Canadian waste that were shipped to Manila in batches from 2013 to 2014 and were since abandoned.
For Malacañang, the trash shipment was offensive to the Philippine government and stressed that the government will definitely ship them back to their country of origin.
READ: Malacañang opposes delay in return of Canada trash
“It will be offensive to this government to be recipient of trash,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said.
“We are offended by that. We will not allow it. We will send them back,” he added. – Marje Pelayo
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