Official trips to Canada banned

Clean-up time: Environmentalists shouting slogans during a protest at the Philippine Senate to demand the Canadian government speed up its removal of garbage shipped to the country six years ago. — AP

MANILA: The Philippine government confirmed that it has banned all government officials and employees from making official trips to Canada, a move that the country is serious in diminishing diplomatic relations with Canada over the trash dispute.

Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo issued a statement yesterday that executive secretary Salvador Medialdea issued a memorandum dated May 20, “directing all department secretaries and heads of agencies, government-owned and controlled corporations and government financial institutions to refrain from issuing travel authorities for official trips to Canada”.