U.S.-RP task force on waste proposed

U.S.-RP task force on waste proposed

MANILA (AFP): The Philippines has proposed a joint task force with the United States to investigate whether former U.S. bases in this country contain toxic waste, it was announced yesterday.

Philippine Foreign Secretary Domingo Siazon made the proposal in talks with U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright in Vancouver, a statement issued here said.

It did not say what Albright's reaction was.

Leftist groups have frequently charged that many areas in former U.S. bases are contaminated and have called on Manila to press Washington to fund a clean-up.

The U.S. embassy has said the bases have been turned over to the Philippines and the United States is no longer responsible for them.