An advocacy group has asked the Bureau of Customs and the Environment Management Bureau to conduct a thorough investigation and file strong cases against the importers of trash from Korea.
Pinoy Aksyon on Governance and the Environment (Pinoy Aksyon) said the issue was a litmus test to the Bureau of Customs which has been wracked by controversies.
“Correct actions of the BOC on the Korean trash that ended up in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental could regain people’s trust in the agency,” said Bency Ellorin, chairperon of Pinoy Aksyon.
The same goes for the Environmental Management Bureau of the DENR, he added.
The group is aghast by the ‘palusot’ of Verde Soko, the recipient of the imported trash that they have actually imported raw materials.
“Even grade schoolers would understand that in manufacturing, you only import raw materials that are not available in the domestic market,” Ellorin said.
Shredded, laminated plastics which Verde Soko showed as their imported raw materials to manufacture plastic pellets are abundant in the country.
RA 9003 or the solid waste management law mandates the recycling of these materials usually used as sachets of shampoos and an array of instant drinks.
What makes matters worse is the mixing of other wastes to these plastics, the group said.
“Obviously, the plastic flakes were just use as front of the blatantly illegal importation of toxic waste which is prohibited by Philippine laws and the Basel Convention,” Ellorin added.
Pinoy Aksyon is urging the BOC and the EMB not to fall to the strong lobby and public relations offensive employing fake NGOs by the importers of the illegal trash and their cohorts.
Congress too should pursue its investigation based on the privilege speech of Iligan City congressman Frederick Siao.
Misamis Oriental 2nd district Rep. Juliet Uy too should take a more prominent role as it happened in her doorsteps.
All government agencies, including the Capitol should stop using kid gloves to once and for all bring to justice the people behind this crime. Lance Baconguis
Pinoy Aksyon is an independent advocacy and think tank. The group aspires to provide platform for Citizens to keep pace with the unfolding of history through critical dialogue.
Among the current campaigns of Pinoy Aksyon are the reforms in the party list system. It has also called out on the Department of Energy and Bureau of Fire Protection to check on widespread unsafe practices in the LPG industry.