1,200 tons of South Korean trash smuggled into Mindanao port

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has called on the South Korean government to stop its citizens from sending massive shipments of garbage to the Philippines.

According to Jun Veneracion's report on "24 Oras,"  an estimated 1,200 tons of trash from South Korea was intercepted following a random physical inspection by Customs authorities on Wednesday.

The garbage was contained in 51 containers and arrived at the Mindanao International Container Terminal Port on October 21.

The abandoned shipment declared to contain "synthetic flakes" was consigned to Verde Soco Philippines.

Port collector John Simon said the consignee should immediately return its shipment to South Korea as the foul-smelling trash might cause diseases in the area.

"Ang importante, ma-realize ninyo na hindi po kami ang tambakan ng basura ng Korea," he said.

The official also called on the South Korean government to ensure no trash is shipped to the Philippines.

"Tayo ay nananawagan sa gobyerno ng Korea. Pagsabihan niya naman ang mga tao n'yo diyan na huwag tayong padalhan ng ganitong basura," Simon said.

For their part, a representative of Verde Soco told GMA News that the garbage was "raw material" for recycling but admitted it was misdeclared.

Verde Soco was also the consignee for the garbage that arrived via ship in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental last July 21. Customs had intercepted the misdeclared shipment that was supposed to contain "plastic synthetic flakes."

"Namomroblema pa nga kami sa basura dito, ta's dito pa nila nilalagay ang mga basura nila, so we have to ask them to take this one and bring it back to South Korea," Tagoloan Mayor Heckbert Emano said.

An investigation conducted by the  Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) had found "hazardous waste" in the garbage shipped from South Korea and insisted that the shipment be returned to its point of origin.

"We will insist the Basel Convention of 1989 wherein malinaw po na sinasabi doon na any illegally trafficked waste should go back to the point of origin," Environment Undersecretary Benny Antiporda said. —Margaret Claire Layug/NB, GMA News