Senator Aquilino Pimentel III has filed a bill seeking to ban the importation of solid waste into the country, saying the Philippines is not a dumping site of more advanced nations.
Pimentel lamented the Philippines is "well in the path" of being known as a country in the "global waste trade" as evidenced by two incidents of trash dumping in 2017 and 2018.
Senate Bill No. 2144 proposes to ban the importation of trash even by recyclers located in Special Economic Zones.
Under the bill, any entity or person who imports any solid waste or otherwise use, treat or process the same in violation of the act, faces imprisonment of 12 years and one day to 20 years depending upon the discretion of the court.
In case the offender is a foreigner, he or she shall be deported and barred from any subsequent entry into the Philippines.
In the event the offender is a corporation, association or other entities, the penalty shall be imposed upon the managing partner, prewsident or chief executive officer, in addition to the payment of an exemplary damage of at least P500,000.
If it is a foreign entity, the director and all its responsible officers shall be barred from entry to the Philippines, in addition to the cancellation of its license to do business in the Philippines.
Pimentel also said that if the offender is a government official or employee, the penalties of automatic dismissal from office and permanent disqualification from holding any elective or appointive position shall be imposed, in addition to the penalties provided in the act.
A person or a firm responsible for or connected with the unlawful importation of solid waste shall have the obligation to send back to the port of origin the prohibited wastes.
"It is our Constitutional duty and inter-generational responsibility to protect and advance the right of the people to a balance and healthful ecology," Pimentel said.”‹