South Korea promises to take back garbage, says DOF

MANILA, Philippines — Illegally imported garbage from South Korea that arrived in Cagayan de Oro City in July and October last year will be returned soon after Seoul promised to shoulder the cost of shipping, the Department of Finance (DOF) said on Wednesday.

According to a report by Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero to Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, the 5,177 metric tons of Korean waste materials are stored on the premises of Phividec Industrial Authority in Misamis Oriental province.

Guerrero said the containers of plastic synthetic flakes were “unlawfully imported” by the Cebu-based Verde Soko Philippines Industrial Corp.

Order of reexportation

“An order of forfeiture and order of reexportation were issued by the Port of Cagayan de Oro [on] these waste materials,” Guerrero said.

The South Korean government, he said, has “expressed its commitment” to ship back the trash to Seoul and “its willingness to shoulder the shipping cost without the arrastre and demurrage charges.” —Ben O. de Vera