Canada finally offers to take back its trash after President Duterte’s threat of war




(Eagle News) – Canada has finally offered to take back tons of its trash that had been in the Philippines since 2013 after Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte earlier threatened to “declare war” over it.

Canadian authorities confirmed that they had made the offer to get the 103 containers that had been shipped to the Philippines containing 2,450 tons of non-recyclable trash which included various items including adult  diapers and other household waste.

On Thursday, May 2, Canadian Minister for Environment and Climate Change Catherin McKenna said that they have already submitted a proposal to the Philippines regarding the repatriation of its trash.

“This is a file we’ve certainly been working hard on for a long time — obviously an irritant in our relationship with the Philippines, but also a problem,” McKenna told the media in Ottawa on Thursday.

“We’ve had a team that’s been working extremely hard, including from Environment and Climate Change Canada, to find a solution. I am not going to go into the details but there is a proposal on the table with the Philippines and we are hopeful we can come to a resolution,” she said.

A Philippine official for the environment department, Undersecretary Benny Antiporda, said that negotiations are currently on the stage where the cost of repatriation is being discussed.

-Duterte: I will advise Canada that your garbage is on the way-

Last week, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has threatened to declare war on Canada if it would still refuse to take back its trash immediately.  He also gave a one-week deadline for Canada to work on this.

The Philippines has already directed its Bureau of Customs to get the garbage containers on a ship bound for Canada not later than May 15.

Yung basura ng — ‘yung basura ng Canada, I want a boat prepared. I’ll give a warning to Canada maybe next week, that they better pull that thing out or I will set sail doon sa Canada ibuhos ko ‘yang basura nila doon,” President Duterte said during a situation briefing on April 23, regarding the quake that severely damaged Pampanga a day before.

“I cannot understand why they are making us a dumpsite? And that is not the only case in point. They — ano ‘yan — papasunod-sunod ‘yan na ipinapadala ‘yung basura sa atin. Well, not this time. Magka-away kami, mag… Eh ‘di ano. Awayin natin ang Canada. I will declare war against them. Kaya man natin ‘yan sila,” he said.

Isauli ko talaga ‘yan, ah tingnan mo. Ikarga mo ‘yan doon sa ano sa barko, load it — the containers to a ship  — and I will advise Canada that your garbage is on the way. Prepare a grand reception. Eat it if you want to. Itong kinakaya-kaya tayo. Hindi ako papayag ng ganun,” the Philippine President said on April 23.