By Betheena Unite

From 103 containers, the shipments of garbage from Canada that were dumped in two major ports in the country about six years ago have been reduced to 69 containers, the Bureau of Customs top official said Friday.

It’s not because the 34 containers of trash have been shipped back to its country of origin but have been disposed, Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero said.

Guerrero said majority of the garbage shipments, which contain household waste –including adult diapers, electronic garbage, and non-recyclable plastics, have been staying at the Port of Subic while two containers of trash were at the Manila International Container Port (MICP).

“Meron sa MICP at meron dito sa Subic (There are shipments in MICP and here in Subic). A total of 103 containers, 34 were already disposed. Meron pang 69, tapos dalawa yatang nasa MICP (There are still 69 containers and two shipments are in MICP),” Guerrero said during the presentation of smuggled sugar in Subic Friday.

According to the commissioner, charges have been filed against the importer, broker, and other individuals involved in the shipments, which arrived in 2013 and 2014. Their Customs accreditation papers have also been revoked.

“Right now, we are coordinating with the interagency technical working group for the return of this trash back to Canada,” Guerrero said.

“Nagkaroon sila ng meeting just recently, pinag-usapan lang kung papaano isi-ship ito as to kung sino ang magababayad (They held a meeting just recently to discuss who will shoulder the cost of its return to Canada),” Guerrero added.

The Customs chief furthered that it has been determined by the court that the importers should shoulder the shipping fee, adding that the unresolved issue on who will handle the cost of its return prevented the trash from being shipped back to Canada many years ago.

In order to avoid yet another trash incident, Guerrero said, the Bureau of Customs is relying on its intensified profiling of importers and their shipments, as well as the description of importations and the countries of origin.

“I am hoping (that it will be shipped back to Canada) very soon especially with the President’s instruction,” Guerrero said.