Cojuangco leads probe of Canadian trash in Tarlac

By Nelson Bolos

TARLAC CITY -- “We will not allow any garbage from other countries to be dumped in Tarlac.”

Thus, said Vice Gov. Enrique Cojuangco during the investigation of the tons of garbage from Canada dumped at the landfill dump site in Kalangitan, Capas town.

This came as eight container vans containing “Canadian waste” delivered last week at the landfill compound were “put on hold and were not allowed to unload”.

The landfill facility is operated by the Metro Clark Waste Management Corporation (MCWMC), a German-Filipino consortium established in the early 2000.

During the investigation, MCWMC President RufuColayco was grilled on the 103 40-footer vans of waste which came from Canada some 14,000 kilometers away.

Colayco admitted that he and his company knew of the imported waste but denied they were toxic or hazardous.

He also said the Bureau of Customs also knew and allowed the “importation of non-toxic garbage” which entered the country at the Port Area in Manila.

But Cojuangco rebuked Colayco saying, “as of now, no one could say if the waste were not toxic or hazardous, because if they are not why should they be traveled more than half way around the world? No one have actually checked on them”

Cojuangco made note that, “in the developed countries, disposal of hazardous and toxic wastes is a big business since they have very stringent environmental laws”.   

Cojuangco was also particularly interested on the whereabouts of 5 container vans which remained unaccounted and are missing.

“I could only conjecture that these 5 containers vans contain either highly toxic materials or perhaps valuable goods which explains why they are missing”, said Cojuangco.

Cojuangco revealed that the importation of garbage has begun in 2013, and this year, 55 container vans of waste from Canada were received at the Manila Port area.

Apparently, 26 vans were already dumped in Capas, while 8 were are on hold at the landfill compound and were not allowed to unload their cargoes of wastes.          

“We, as host of the landfill, should have been consulted if the waste dumped at the landfill were not from local communities. The Landfill facility was allowed to operate in Tarlac to accommodate the waste and garbage within the Clark eco-zone and nearby provinces only”, said Cojuangco.

“Kahit sino naman ayaw magpatapon ng basurang ibang tao sa loob ng kanyang bakuran, that is why we are vehemently against the dumping of garbage from other countries”, also said the vice-governor.

With regards the 8 impounded container van trucks, Cojuangco said “they will indefinitely be put on hold until it becomes legally clear were they should go”.

Apparently, the Manila Port Area is not inclined to allow the re-entry of the 8 cargo vans. 

The Provincial Board presided by Cojuangco will continue its investigation on the Canadian garbage controversy.  

The jam-packed SP inquiry was attended by environmental groups, the mayor and other officials of Capas town, local and foreign press and numerous residents living near the MCWMC landfill site all airing their opposition to the dumping of the imported wastes.