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The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority has partnered with other government agencies to establish an inter-agency task force that ensures efficient handling of maritime accidents and environmental emergencies in Subic Bay Freeport Zone
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SBMA, the Philippine Coast Guard, Bureau of Customs, Philippine National Police-Maritime Group, and National Mapping and Resource Information Authority signed an MOU on November 21 creating the Inter-Agency Task Force for Maritime Incidents and Emergency Response
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SBMA chairman and administrator Eduardo Jose Aliño said the creation of the IATF-MIER is timely because of recent incidents of oil spills along the coast of Bataan
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For 2025, SBMA Seaport Department is eyeing a P100-million project for the installation of oil spill equipment at various port terminals at the Freeport
The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has forged a partnership with other government agencies to establish an inter-agency task force that ensures efficient handling of maritime accidents and environmental emergencies in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.
SBMA, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Bureau of Customs, Philippine National Police-Maritime Group, and the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority on November 21 signed a memorandum of understanding creating the Inter-Agency Task Force for Maritime Incidents and Emergency Response (IATF-MIER).
SBMA chairman and administrator Eduardo Jose Aliño in a statement said the creation of the IATF-MIER is timely because of recent oil spill incidents along the coast of Bataan, wreaking havoc on its marine life, as well as the livelihood of maritime stakeholders in the area.
He said the IATF-MIER is a whole-of-government approach towards maritime-related incidents with the task force composed of government agencies that specialize in their fields of expertise, and would collaborate with other pertinent units to prevent any incidents within SBMA’s navigational waters.
IATF-MIER tasks include identification of potential emergency situations that can cause illness or injury to humans and the environment under a code of guidelines for preparedness and response; addressing emergency situations; and proposing mitigation efforts for associated adverse environmental impacts or effects to humans and prevention of accidents.
Aliño said the IATF-MIER will also undertake information and education campaigns for communities in nearby coastal areas to heighten awareness in preventing maritime incidents and providing emergency response in the shortest record time possible.
SBMA senior deputy administrator for operations Ronnie Yambao added that the SBMA Seaport Department has already procured oil spill equipment to handle environmental emergencies such as oil spill incidents that have become more frequent in the past few months.
These include a shipboard oil spill pollution emergency plan oil spill kit that has a capacity of around 416 liters, foam-filled oil spill boom, and a PCG-certified oil spill dispersant.
Yambao said the procurement of the oil spill response equipment is crucial for effective preparedness and response to pollution-related incidents with the impact of oil spills taken into consideration.
For 2025, the Seaport Department is eyeing a P100-million project for the installation of oil spill equipment in various port terminals, including the Naval Supply Depot Compound, Ship Repair Facility Compound, Boton, and the New Container Terminal/Leyte. The equipment will aid the IATF-MIER during oil spill response incidents.
Moreover, the US Embassy in Manila donated equipment that will augment the emergency response of IATF-MIER. The Deed of Donation was formally signed following the MOU signing of the task force.
Aliño said the donation of six units of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or drones to be paired with Starlink mobile internet units will boost the monitoring and response capabilities of SBMA Seaport, Fire and Law Enforcement departments.
“The US Embassy has also provided comprehensive training to our personnel for the effective and proper use of the said drones,” he added.
The signing of the IATF-MIER MOU and the donation of the UAVs and Starlink Mobile Internet were part of activities during the 32nd anniversary of the SBMA.
READ: SBMA targets seaport, airport projects for completion by 2028
