Why the shipment of 15 40-footer container vans of toxic waste materials was allowed to be “reexported” to its port of origin in violations of existing laws has puzzled local and international environmentalists who demanded yesterday an immediate investigation.
The questioned shipment of used hospital supplies described as “garbage” arrived last January from Hong Kong ostensibly for purposes of dumping them here in violations of the Anti-Dumping Law and the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines.
The issue on whether it was legal to return the questioned shipment back to Hong Kong has also sparked a debate between two groups of Bureau of Customs (BoC) lawyers, one of which held that the toxic waste materials, which were injurious to public health should have been seized, forfeited and destroyed. The other group claimed otherwise.
Of the 15 container vans, five were sneaked into the Manila International Container Port at North Harbor while the 10 entered the Port of Manila.
Wu Hu, the consignee of the questioned shipment, claimed it was a cease of “misshipment,” adding what they ordered from Hong Kong suppliers were “pet bottles” but was instead given hospital wastes.
It appeared that the two district ports sustained the allegation of Wu Hu that it had been a case of misshipment as gleaned from their order recently for the reexportation of the waste materials.
The BoC’s Miscellaneous Division stumbled on the questioned shipment during a routinary inspection when it was attracted by foul smell emitting from the container vans. When some of the container vans were opened, they contained hospital wastes.
The division recommended that Wu Hu be prosecuted for violations of existing laws, particularly the Anti-Dumping Law. But another group of Customs lawyers recommended that the shipment be reexported to Hong Kong without any sanctions against the importer.
Customs insiders said it was highly doubtful if the same toxic waste materials would be accepted by Hong Kong, thus giving rise to suspicion that the garbage could have been dumped into the seas.
Greenpeace was set to send a formal letter to the BoC on its demand for an immediate investigation of the failed dumping of toxic waste materials into the country. –Conrado Ching, Daily Tribune
September 18 –
International Equal Pay Day
“Increase wages now,
more than other cost items.
For widespread, practical equality!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the recommendations of the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry
against serious violations of protocols of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association.
Accept the National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar. Reject Military!
#WearMask #WashHands
#Report Corruption #SearchPosts #TakePicturesVideos
October –
Monthly Observances:
Industry and Commerce Safety Month
National Statistics Month
Local Government Month
Consumer Welfare Month
Cooperative Month
National Quality and Productivity Improvement Month
National Health and Wellness Tourism Month
National Indigenous Peoples Month
Weekly Observances:
Week 1: Elderly Filipino Week
Week 2: National Health Education Week
Local Government Week
National Mental Health Week
October 17-23:
National Week for Overcoming Extreme Poverty
October 18 – 24:
United Nations Week
Last Week:
Nurses’ Week
Consumers’ Protection Week
Week of the 4th Sunday:
Barrio Farmers’ Week
Daily Observances:
First Monday (Oct 4): Universal Children’s Day i
n the Philippines
Oct 5: National Teachers’ Day
Oct 10: Local Government Day
Third Thursday (Oct 14): Conflict Resolution Day
Oct 21: Tenants’ Emancipation day
Oct 24: United Nations Day
Oct 29: National Indigenous People’s Thanksgiving Day
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