Groups demand Canada to take back its garbage

Environmental and labor groups opposed to foreign waste dumping demanded the Canadian government to provide the exact date when it will take their rotting garbage out of the Philippines.

Fearing that Canada’s assurance to resolve the long-drawn-out dumping controversy will end up as an empty promise, the groups sought a clear timeline for the return of the illegal trash consignments to its origin.

The groups reiterated the need to put the garbage dumping issue to a close as the Philippine Earth Month is observed this April as per Proclamation 1482 issued on April 10, 2008.

In November 2017, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau assured President Duterte of his government’s commitment to resolve the garbage issue, announcing at a press conference on the sidelines of the 31st ASEAN summit that “it is now theoretically possible to take (their rubbish) back.”

“Over four months have already lapsed since PM Trudeau made that pronouncement and we remain clueless as to when Canada’s garbage will be finally shipped out. As this is a matter of national concern and pride, it is only just and proper for us, the people, to demand transparency from the authorities as to what is being done to settle the problem,” said Josua Mata, secretary general of Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa (SENTRO).

“We hope Canada is not purposely keeping our people in the dark about its efforts to rectify this festering environmental justice issue. PM Trudeau can quickly erase any suspicion by publicly disclosing his government's plan and timetable for re-importing Canada's garbage, which they cannot delay any further. We have the right to know and to expect PM Trudeau to honor what he said he would do,” added Aileen Lucero, national coordinator of the Quezon City based EcoWaste Coalition.