MANILA, Philippines - The House committee on ecology has asked the Canadian government to take back the 50 shipping containers of wastes to its port of origin.
Citing the Basel Convention, Manila Rep. Amado Bagatsing, chairman of the House panel, wrote his counterpart in Ottawa in Canada regarding the wastes.
The Basel Convention sets the rules on the transport of hazardous wastes.
Bagatsing expressed confidence the issue could be resolved through diplomatic means.
Copies of the letter were sent to Canadian Ambassador Neil Reeder, Environment Secretary Ramon Paje and Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario.
Bagatsing told his Canadian counterpart that the shipping containers were sent to the Philippines in 2013 by Chronic Inc., a private company based in Ontario.
While criminal cases were lodged against the consignee Chronic Plastics, the committee cited the fact that the Philippines and Canada have been signatories to the Basel Convention since 1989.