Ambassador says Canadian garbage not toxic

Canadian Ambassador to the Philippines Neil Reeder (Philippine Commission on Women, @PCWgovph / Twitter)

ILOILO CITY -– Canadian Ambassador to the Philippines Neil Reeder admitted he is not privy to the shipment agreement between a private sector firm in Canada and the consignee in the Philippines regarding the more than 50 container vans of garbage now rotting at the container yard of the Bureau of Customs in the Port area.

In a press conference in Iloilo City on Thursday, the Canadian envoy said the matter was brought to the attention of the Embassy recently after the container vans were opened to reveal garbage of household wastes and plastics.

But definitely, these are not toxic wastes and the Embassy is looking for best solutions in cooperation with the Philippine government how to dispose this garbage.

The Ambassador also admitted that so far, the Canadian government does not have a legislation to enforce the shipment back to the original country.

He is also amenable that Philippine Congress will undertake an investigation regarding the garbage shipment and to find the best solutions.

Earlier, five container vans of Canadian garbage were disposed in Capas, Tarlac. However, local government units along the way protested the dumping and the disposal were initially stopped.