PH to Send Back Containers of Waste to Korea

From South Korea to the Philippines, and now back to South Korea.

The 6,500 tons of waste that were dumped in Mindanao will be returned to South Korea starting next week, according to a port official.

In July 2018, 5,100 tons of garbage arrived at the Mindanao International Container Terminal, Misamis Oriental. 51 containers of waste were additionally shipped in October, then transferred to the consignee’s compound in Tagoloan.

The DENR revealed, upon later inspection, that the shipment contained used dextrose tubes, batteries, bulbs, soiled diapers, and electronic equipment.

The containers of waste will be sent back to South Korea on January 9, according to John Simon, a port collector at the Mindanao International Container Port.

Before the waste is returned, however, it has to be carefully repacked, added Simon.

The dirty details

Upon further investigation, Verde Soko Philippines Industrial Corp, the consignee, did not have an import permit from the environment department. The garbage shipment was even declared as “plastic synthetic fakes.”

80 more containers of trash could have entered the country with the consignee getting $25 million, according to Simon.

The decision to ship the waste back to South Korea next week came after the bilateral meeting between Filipino and Korean authorities.