Over 900 locally funded projects completed in NorMin
See story, p.2
MINDANAO DAILY We innovate... and we lead!
Volume VIII, No. 198
www.mindanaodailynews.com
Thursday, January 17, 2019
P15.00
Customs exec gets threat as ‘Sokor’ cleans ‘garbage’ Since
1923
By CRIS DIAZ Executive Editor
MISAMIS Oriental--An official of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) is getting ‘death threats’ as repatriation of 6,300 tons of garbage started this week. John Simon, the collector at the BOC’s sub-port on the Mindanao International Container Terminal (MICT), in the Phividec Industrial Estate in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental, said he has been receiving “calls” and “text messages” warning him to be careful. “I don’t give a damn to the threats for as long as I believed that what I am doing is for the country,” Simon told the Mindanao Daily News. He said that the South Korean government has started shipping back 51 container vans of “garbage” The members of the EcoWaste Coalition hold a picket rally in front of the plastic trash from South Korea. With the protesters are, 3rd from left, Bureau to South Korea Sunday of Customs-10 District Collector Floro Calixihan Jr., Mindanao Container Terminal sub-port Collector John Simon, and Misamis Oriental second district See THREATS, page 11
Rep. Juliette Uy (wearing green dress). Photo by Gerry Lee Gorit
VERDE SOKO TRASH PARTIALLY RETURNED TO SOKOR. The last three of 51 container vans con-
taining assorted trash from South Korea are ready to be loaded January 13 onto MV Kalliroe V8525 at Mindanao Container Terminal in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental en route to their country of origin. The shipment is part of the consignment of Verde Soko Industrial Philippines Corporation which has been forfeited by the government for being misdeclared as merely plastic flakes for recycling. Photo by Mark Francisco
Survey: Voters want candidates who will address plastic pollution
SEVEN out of 10 Filipinos will support candidates who will ban establishments from using singleuse plastic across the country, according to a Social Weather Stations survey undertaken on the third quarter of 2018. The nationwide survey also showed that eight out of 10 Filipinos will vote for a candidate who will advocate for the strict implementation of solid waste management laws. The survey also revealed that eight of 10 Fili-
pinos support prohibiting groceries, public markets, fast food chains, and other similar establishments from using or providing non-biodegradable plastic bags, with a net approval rating of ‘extremely strong.’ “The voters have spoken, and they want candidates who will address the issue of plastic pollution with true and lasting solutions. We are hearing a lot now on how politicians want to solve this crisis, but sadly, these are band aid solutions that
are mostly done for show. Our voters are looking at the midterm elections to choose candidates who will present a vision and see that vision translate into action,” said Abigail Aguilar, campaigner for Greenpeace Southeast Asia - Philippines. The survey revealed a strong clamor for regulating or banning single-use plastics and the proper and full implementation of Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Law, which
provides for solid waste reduction through proper waste segregation, recycling, composting, and other ecological methods before disposal in the appropriate facilities. Despite being hailed as one of the world’s most progressive laws on waste management, the implementation of the 18-year old law has suffered from lack of political will, alleged corruption by local government officials, and contradicting policies
See POLLUTION, page 11
mindanaodailynews@gmail.com mindanaodaily.ads@gmail.com 0917-7121424, 0947-8935776