WARNING that imported foreign waste worsens local flooding and places an additional burden on the country’s sanitation system, a deputy majority leader has filed legislation seeking a total ban on waste imports, with stiff penalties and mandatory arrests for violators.
Quezon City Rep. Patrick Michael Vargas filed House Bill 6267, or the proposed Total Ban on the Importation of Wastes Act. Under the bill, the entry of all foreign waste, processed waste, and waste by-products into Philippine territory would be declared illegal.
‘We have seen in recent weeks during the Habagat how garbage has overflowed into our rivers and waterways. It will be even more difficult to address our waste management problems if we continue allowing the Philippines to become a dumping ground for other countries’ waste,’ Vargas said.
The bill cites a United Nations Environment Programe report identifying Asia as a major dumping ground for illegally traded waste. It also details previous high-profile incidents in which tons of toxic, household, and electronic waste from Canada, South Korea, Japan, and Hong Kong, entered Philippine ports.
Vargas emphasized that preventing foreign waste from entering the country is critical to urban flood control and long-term environmental sustainability.
‘Improper waste disposal further worsens flooding and disasters whenever there are typhoons and monsoon rains. We must first put our own waste management system in order. Let us close our doors to foreign waste,’ Vargas said.
To ensure strict compliance at the country’s borders, HB 6267 mandates the establishment of 24/7 Environmental Protection Desks at all national ports of entry. Misdeclared cargo or shipments containing waste would be prohibited from being unloaded and would be ordered to return immediately to their port of origin at the shipper’s expense.
The measure would penalize violators through the seizure of vessels and permanent shipping bans on offending foreign exporters. It would also require the immediate arrest of officers, crew members, and consignees who refuse to comply with orders to leave Philippine ports.
Violators would also face prosecution under existing environmental and customs laws, including Republic Act No. 9003 and the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.
‘By establishing a total ban, we send a clear message to the international community that the Philippines is not a dumping ground. We must prioritize and address the cleanliness and safety of the Philippines first,’ Vargas said.