EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
S E N A T E  
S. No.
,(/) TIME;
BILLS &
Introduced by Senator Aqiiilino “Koko” Pimentel III
AN ACT
BANNING THE IMPORTATION OF SOLID WASTE 
EXPLANATORY NOTE
In the 17th Congress, the undersigned authored Proposed Senate 
Resolution Nos. 553 on December 4,-2017 as regards the so-called 
Canadian trash and 939 on November 13, 2018 as regards the so-called 
Korean trash. These two incidents of trash dumping indicate that the 
Philippines is well in the path of the so-called "global waste trade.”
While the Canadian trash and the Korean trash have been shipped 
back to Canada and Korea, respectively, these incidents of trash dumping 
are capable of repetition. Therefore, a law to prohibit the importation of 
solid waste is urgently needed to prevent the entry of these wastes.
Pursuant to our Constitutional duty and intergenerational 
responsibility to protect and advance the right of our people to a balanced 
and healthful ecology, and considering our own trash woes, this bill 
proposes to ban the importation of trash even by recyclers of trash located 
in Special Economic Zones. By banning the importation of imported solid 
waste, we prevent the country from being a dumping site of more 
advanced economies.


It is worthy to note that China, fomierly the top destination for 
recyclable trash, has banned the importation of solid wastes, with 
Thailand and Vietnam following suit. The China ban has left exporters of 
plastic wastes to China, such as the US, Britain, Germany, Japan, and 
Mexico, scrambling to find new dumping sites for their wastes.
Without a ban in place, we should expect more foreign wastes 
arriving in our shores. Thus, in view ot the foregoing, the urgent passage 
of this bill is earnestly sought.
AQLIILINO uKOKO” PIMENTEL III


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
S E N A T E  
S. No. 
S8
^ R E C E IV E D
datJul - 1  imr-r
4
BILLS
Introduced by Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel 111
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AN ACT
BANNING THE IMPORTATION OF SOLID WASTE
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. -  It is the declared policy of 
the State to prohibit the entry of imported solid waste into Philippine 
territorial limits for whatever purpose to prevent and control 
environmental pollution caused by solid waste, safeguard human health, 
maintain ecological safety, and promote the sustainable development of 
Philippine economy and society.
SEC. 2. Ban on Importation of Solid Waste and Its Use. -  It shall be 
unlawful to import any solid waste, as defined in Republic Act No. 9003 
and its implementing rules and regulations, into or within Philippine 
territory, or otherwise use, treat, or process the same. For purposes of this 
Act, Special Economic Zones, as defined in Republic Act No. 7916, as 
amended, are considered part of Philippine territory.
SEC. 3. Penalties. -  Any entity or person who shall import any solid 
waste or otherwise use, treat, or process the same in violation of this Act 
shall be punished with imprisonment of twelve years and one day to 
twenty years, at the discretion of the court.
If the offender is a foreigner, the foreigner offender shall be deported 
and barred from any subsequent entry into the Philippine after service of 
sentence.


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In the case of corporations, associations, or other entities, the 
penalty shall be imposed upon the managing partner, president, or chief 
executive officer, in addition to the payment of an exemplary damage of 
at least Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (P500,000.00). If it is a foreign 
entity, the director and all its responsible officers shall be barred from 
entry into the Philippines, in addition to the cancellation of its license to 
do business in the Philippines.
In case the offender is a government official or employee, the 
penalties 
of automatic 
dismissal 
from 
office 
and 
permanent 
disqualification from holding any elective appointive position shall be 
imposed, in addition to the penalties provided herein.
SEC. 4. Other Penalties. -  The person or firm responsible for or 
connected with the unlawful importation of solid waste shall have the 
obligation to transport or send back to the port of origin such prohibited 
wastes. If the importer cannot be ascertained, the carrier shall be 
responsible for transporting such solid waste back to the port of origin or 
pay the exemplary damage of at least Five Hundred Thousand Pesos 
(P500,00.00), or both.
If the importation caused environmental pollution, the component 
environmental protection agency shall order the importer to eliminate the 
pollution.
SEC. 5. Forfeiture of Proceeds and Equipment. -  The penalty 
imposed for the unlawful importation of solid waste and its use shall cany 
with it the confiscation and forfeiture in favor of the Government of the 
proceeds of the unlawful act including any instrument, equipment, tool, 
or other improvements used in or with which the offense was committed.
SEC. 6. Appropriations. -  The amount necessary to caiTy out the 
provisions of this Act shall be included in the annual General 
Appropriations Act.
SEC. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. -  Within sixty (60) 
days from the approval of this Act, the Department of Environment and 
Natural Resources (DENR) and the Department of Trade and Industry 
(DTI) shall formulate and promulgate the necessary rules and regulations 
to implement the provisions of this Act.


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SEC. 8. Separability Clause. -  If any provision of this Act is 
declared invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected by 
such declaration shall remain in full force and eftect.
SEC. 9. Repealing Clause. -  All laws, executive and administrative 
orders, rules and regulations inconsistent with the foregoing provisions 
are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
SEC. 10. Effectivity. -  This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general 
circulation.
Approved,