Uy seeks probe into garbage shipment

By JOEY NACALABAN
Correspondent .

REP. Juliette Uy of Misamis Oriental’s 2nd District yesterday called for a congressional investigation into the shipment of thousands of tons of what she called as “hazardous garbage” from South Korea to Tagoloan town.

Uy said this even as she called on those responsible for the shipment to “take back the 5,100 tons of hazardous garbage from South Korea and to account for the possible violations of Philippine laws in importing wastes into the country.”

The shipment, according to authorities, contained used dextrose tubes, used diapers, batteries, bulbs and electronic equipment.

“We are in fact still facing the challenge of managing our own trash and here, we have imported South Korean garbage that should not have been sent here in the first place. Congress needs to pursue an inquiry on this controversy,” said Uy.

She added: “There is something definitely wrong here. Congress would be able to contribute in finding a policy solution to stop the dumping of foreign garbage in our country.”

Gov. Yevgeny Vincente Emano said the Bureau of Customs (BOC) should identify the people who had a hand in the garbage shipment and, this time, make sure that they don’t get away with it.

“Sigi lang expose sa illegal shipment pero gakagawas ang suspects,” Gov. Emano said.

At the House on Tuesday, Uy said, Iligan Rep. Frederick Siao delivered a privilege speech on the garbage shipment as he called on the government to make sure that those responsible be held accountable. She said she was one with Siao in making the call.

According to Uy, the garbage from South Korea was offloaded at the Mindanao International Container Terminal from the vessel MV Affluent Ocean, and  has been at the Phividec Industrial Estate in Tagoloan since July.

Uy said there was a need to determine why government agencies allowed the importation of the garbage.

She said there was also a need to find out if the company responsible for the shipment, VNS Verde Soko Philippines Industrial Corp., secured an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) from the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB). If it has an ECC, she said, then “there is probably something wrong.”

Uy said she has noted that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has revealed that the consignee is not recognized as an authorized importer of recyclable materials.

The firm is operating at a 4.5-hectare property within the Phividec Industrial Estate in Barangay Sta. Cruz in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental.

Rep. Uy’s husband Julio, a former vice governor of the province and ex-mayor of Villanueva, Tagoloan’s neighboring town, said the government should take the matter seriously, adding that he was worried that shipments such as this could be used in smuggling illegal drugs into the country.

“Daghan hinangal karon. Basin basura lang atong nabalitaan pero naa diay droga ana o basin nakuha na ang droga ana kay gakalusotan naman pirmi atong Bureau of Customs karon ug dili man tambakanan og basura atong probinsya,” the former vice governor said.

Tagoloan Mayor Heckert Emano said he was unaware of the shipment, adding that he resented that Phividec officials did not inform the town government about it.

He said the company has not been given a permit by him, and the town government was “bypassed.”

“Maybe, it’s time now for Phividec to talk to us so we would know their functions. It’s a must to review their (Phividec) charter,” said Mayor Emano, adding that Tagoloanons did not deserve to be at the receiving end of “smelly garbage” from another country when the town was already dealing with its own wastes. (with reports from Herbie Gomez)