THE Philippine government has shipped back 2,676 metric tons (MT) of waste materials to South Korea, which had been stored at the premises of the PHIVIDEC Industrial Authority in Misamis Oriental since 2018, the Department of Finance said on Wednesday.
Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero, in a report cited by the DOF in a statement, said the 2,676 MT was part of the 5,176.91 MT that South Korean government officials have committed to help ship back to their country after these were illegally exported to the Philippines in July 2018.
The waste materials consist of plastic synthetic flakes that were unlawfully imported by the Cebu-based Verde Soko Philippines Industrial Corp.
Guerrero said the garbage was shipped back in 151 40-footer containers.
The first batch of 51 containers was re-exported to Korea on Jan. 25, 2019, followed by another shipment of 50 containers on January 15 this year. The third batch consisting of 50 containers was shipped to Korea last March 21.
“The re-exportation took some time because the wastes have been exposed to natural elements of heat and rain, which made it difficult to re-bag and stuff inside the containers,” Guerrero said, adding that 2,500 MT of wastes still need to be re-bagged.
The remaining wastes were originally scheduled to be repatriated to Korea by end of March, but the imposition of the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine set back the BOC timetable.
“Rest assured that the bureau will undertake all the necessary means, within the bounds of law, in order to expedite the re-exportation of these wastes,” Guerrero said.
An order of forfeiture and order of re-exportation has been issued by the Port of Cagayan de Oro City against the waste materials from South Korea, which arrived in bulk and containerized shipments.
