Imported trash should be sent back to South Korea, Iligan rep says

MANILA, Philippines — Rep. Fredrick Siao (Iligan City) on Monday called for the sender of 51 containers of garbage shipped from South Korea to the Philippines to take it back

The garbage was sent last July and has been sitting at the Mindanao International Container Terminal in Tagaloan, Misamis Oriental since last July. 

"On October 24, a company by the name of Verde Soko Philippines Industrial Corporation sent its representative known as a processor to the Customs bureau to request for the lifting of the abandonment of their shipment," the Mindanao lawmaker said in a privilege speech at the House of Representatives.

READ: Tons of garbage from South Korea reportedly shipped to the Philippines 

"It was only on that day...that Customs realized the shipment had been there for a total of four months," he added.

According to documents obtained by Customs officials, the garbage shipment had been originally declared as “plastic synthetic flakes.”

Siao said that "the residents of Iligan City reject these 51 containers of garbage from South Korea."

READ: Tons of garbage from South Korea reportedly shipped to the Philippines

Iligan City is 111 kilometers south of Tagoloan.

"First, we demand that the consignee, Verde Soko Philippines Industrial Corporation, and its shipper based in South Korea to pay for any and all expenses on the return of the garbage to South Korea," Siao said.

He said that he wanted relevant government agencies to shut down and "seize all the assets of the Verde Soko Philippines Industrial Corporation" and relevant individuals involved in its importation face criminal charges.

This is the second big case of garbage importation to the Philippines in recent years. 

In 2015, close to 100 container vans of garbage were imported to the Philippines from Canada, where it also sat for months before it was discovered .

READ: Trudeau: Canada committed to cleaning up garbage dumping issue