CLARK FREEPORT -- Anakpawis party-list Ariel Casilao has called on Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to expedite the return of about 103 containers of trash back in Canada which have been shipped to the Philippines four years ago.
“We welcome the effort of the President in raising the issue PM Trudeau, who committed to President (Rodrigo) Duterte that his government is finding a solution to address the issue. We hope that the solution would be soon because these waste that have been here for several years might pose health issues in the long run even if it is properly treated”, Casilao said
“To prove its serious commitment, we asked PM Trudeau to expedite its measure so that these mixed waste materials would be shipped back to their country for proper disposal,” Casilao added.
In July 2015, Tarlac Governor Victor Yap asked the Metro Clark Waste Management Corporation (MCWMC) to suspend the disposal of illegal imported trash from Canada that the Bureau of Customs seized in 2013.
The imported waste from Canada was reportedly contracted to be buried at the MCWMC sanitary land fill in Capas town.
The Makabayan lawmaker said that the dumping of Canada’s trash was a product of corruption.
“It is also a product of unfair trade relationship as our trade policy is geared to further open our market to foreign exports especially to non-Asean members,” he added.
Casilao said that this is one of the effects of the Asean in terms of trade, even waste materials are exported aside from various surplus of agricultural products which are gradually killing Filipino farmers’ livelihood and the agriculture industry.
The 31st Asean Summit allegedly posed more threat to local farmers and workers and urban poor.
“President Trump’s major trade statement was the product of his government’s lobbying and arm twisting to poor Asean members just like the Philippines. This would only mean massive land grab of peasant and indigenous people’s communities for expansion of US-owned agri corporations which will resulted to militarization, the representative said.
“For workers, further flexibilization and lowering of daily wage will likely push for conducive business environment while demolition threat looms against urban poor communities for projects intended especially to US companies in a nationwide scale,” Casilao added.
