Canadian envoy: ‘We are working as quickly as we can’ on trash take back

Canadian Ambassador to the Philippines John Holmes on taking back the trash to Canada: We are working as quickly as we can. @inquirerdotnet pic.twitter.com/juZmEpeI5j

— Nestor A. Corrales (@NCorralesINQ) April 29, 2019

MANILA, Philippines — Canada is “working as quickly” as it could to take back the trash it imported to the Philippines as the deadline given by President Rodrigo Duterte for the country to do so nears.

“We are working closely, collaboratively with the Philippine government and we have already indicated that we are prepared to take the trash back and so this is an issue that both government have to work together and solve together,” Canadian Ambassador to the Philippines John Holmes said in a chance interview after a media freedom and responsibility forum at the Ateneo de Manila University.

Holmes also said they “are working as quickly as we can” but did not give a timeline.

In a speech in Pampanga on April 23, Duterte threatened war against Canada if it does not take back the garbage it sent to the country six years ago.

READ: Duterte to Canada: Take trash back or else I’ll declare war

He gave until this week for Canada to take back its trash.

While Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the war threat was a mere figure of speech, he said the Duterte’s ultimatum stays.

READ: Palace: Duterte war threat vs Canada just ‘figure of speech;’ ultimatum stays

Between 2013 and 2014, the Bureau of Customs intercepted a total of 103 containers of mixed garbage from Canada that were declared as “recyclable scrap plastics.” /kga