28 July 2015 Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. wants a thorough Senate investigation on the dumping of Canadian garbage in the Philippines. Marcos’ call for a Senate inquiry in aid of legislation was contained in Senate Resolution 1449. It aims to institute more stringent measures to protect public health and the environment from toxic and hazardous materials as well as ensure environmentally sound waste management. Marcos, chair of the Senate Committee on Local Government and concurrent member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, was puzzled why foreign trash, feared to contain toxic and hazardous materials, ended up in Philippine soil. The garbage was shipped to the Philippines in July 2013, although the Philippines ratified in 1993, and Canada in 1992, the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Wastes that prohibits the trade of toxic and hazardous wastes unless a country consents to it. Waste disposal in the Philippines is also strictly regulated by Republic Act 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act and Republic Act 6969, or the Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Waste Control Act. The Constitution also calls on the state to protect and promote people’s right to health and their right to a balanced and healthy ecology. “It is crucial to scrutinize the policy of the government in allowing the foreign-sourced trash into local landfills in order to assess and enhance viable mechanisms to protect our people from the health perils brought about by the gargantuan rubbish literally thrown into our backyard at the expense of our people,” Marcos said in the resolution. Marcos was in Tarlac Provincial Capitol earlier and had a dialogue with local officials led by Gov. Victor Yap and Vice Gov. Enrique “Kit” Cojuangco, who reported to him that at least 26 container vans of the Canadian garbage had already been unloaded in a private landfill in Sitio Kalangitan, Capas, Tarlac operated by the private firm Metro Clark Waste Management Corp. The meeting was also attended by Rep. Susan Yap (2nd District, Tarlac), Gerona town Mayor Dennis Go, president of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines-Tarlac chapter; provincial board members, other municipal mayors, vice mayors, councilors, barangay captains, and concerned groups. “We have to ask (in the Senate probe) whether it is already the policy of the government to import garbage. If it’s not a policy, how did the trash from Canada find its way to the Philippines?” Marcos said. http://www.bongbongmarcos.com/news/post/sen-marcos-files-resolution-to-investigate-canadian-trash/ Bongbong to probe illegal dumping of Canadian waste in Tarlac politiko_pic Senator Bongbong Marcos Jr. is set to conduct a probe on the dumping of waste illegally shipped from Canada in the sanitary landfill operated by the Metro Clark Waste Management Corp. in Capas, Tarlac following complaints from local officials. The Tarlac officials met with Marcos Wednesday at the provincial capitol where they sought his assistance on the issue. “We object to any kind of illegal dumping of wastes, be it local or foreign. But this seems to be one of the worst cases that we have heard about na parang lumalabas na nag-iismuggle tayo ng basura papasok sa Pilipinas. Saan ka naman nakarinig ng ganun?” the senator said. During the meeting, Vice Governor Enrique Cojuangco said they would formalize their complaint through a provincial board resolution that they will send to the senator. Marcos expressed alarm that with more stringent regulations on waste disposal in other countries, particularly in Europe, similar shipments could find their way into Philippine ports in the future. “Waste disposal in Europe has become very expensive that it would be cheaper to ship the garbage anywhere where it would be accepted. But why should we accept garbage, and who is making money here, notwithstanding the health risks this may pose to our people?” he said. “Before the situation gets worse, we should investigate this issue. If necessary, we must amend our laws and impose more stringent regulations so that we won’t be known all over the world as a garbage importer,” he added. At least 26 out of the 50 containers of waste shipped from Canada in 2013 had already been dumped in the landfill the Tarlac, the provincial government has ordered a stop to any further disposal of garbage. Another batch of 48 container vans of trash shipped by the same exporter was discovered in Subic port. http://politics.com.ph/bongbong-to-probe-illegal-dumping-of-canadian-waste-in-tarlac/ http://politics.com.ph/bongbong-to-probe-illegal-dumping-of-canadian-waste-in-tarlac/