The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has enhanced its interoperability with Indonesia’s Directorate General of Sea Transportation (DGST) and Japan Coast Guard (JCG) as it concluded the Regional Maritime Pollution Exercise (MARPOLEX) 2024 on Friday, June 28.
The closing ceremony of the four-day maritime exercise was held at the BREDCO Port in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental.
Vice Admiral Rolando Lizor Punzalan Jr., PCG deputy commandant for operations, said the agency learned the best practices of the DGST and JCG in responding to oil spill incidents and protecting marine ecosystems.
“Our ability to collaborate, communicate effectively, and mobilize resources has been truly inspiring and demonstrates our shared commitment to safeguarding our oceans for future generations,” he said in a statement on Saturday, June 29.
The exercise, which kicked off on June 24, included the conduct of joint search and rescue operations, firefighting simulation, oil spill and equipment recovery operations, as well as damage assessment in the vicinity waters off Guimaras Strait in Western Visayas.
The exercise co-directors were Vice Adm. Roy Echeverria for the PCG, Rear Adm. Jon Kenedi for the DGST, and Captain Sase Koichi for the JCG.
Six vessels participated in the drills namely offshore patrol vessel BRP Gabriela Silang (OPV-8301), multi-role response vessel BRP Cape San Agustin (MRRV-4408), tugboat BRP Habagat (TB-271), fast patrol boat BRP Kalanggaman (FPB-2404), patrol vessel KN Trisula P111 from DGST, and patrol vessel PLH 02 Tsugaru from JCG.
Punzalan encouraged the DGST and JCG to remain vigilant, proactive, and resolute in their mission to protect the oceans and create a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable future.
“Our work does not end here. The threats of marine pollution are real and ongoing. It is up to us to continue our efforts to reduce, prevent, and mitigate the impacts of pollution on our oceans,” he said.
The exercise served as an avenue for the three coast guard groups to refine their response capabilities to various sea incidents.
In 2023, the PCG’s oil spill response capability was put to test when an oil spill occurred in Oriental Mindoro due to the sinking of M/T Princess Empress. In 2006, Guimaras Strait was among those affected by another major oil spill as a result of the sinking of MT Solar 1.
The biennial MARPOLEX is an implementation of the 1981 Sulawesi Sea Oil Spill Response Network Plan Agreement. The Regional MARPOLEX 2024 was the 23rd conduct of the said maritime exercise since its establishment in 1986.