BACOLOD CITY – The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)-Northern Negros Occidental is all set for this year’s Regional Marine Pollution Exercise (MARPOLEX) here alongside counterparts from Indonesia and Japan from June 24 to 28.
BRP Gabriela Silang (OPV 8301) of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) leaves Davao City for Bacolod City on June 19 to participate in this year’s Regional Marine Pollution Exercise (MARPOLEX) alongside counterparts from Indonesia and Japan from June 24 to 28. (Photo courtesy of Coast Guard District Southeastern Mindanao)
Commander Paterno Belarmino, head of PCG-Northern Negros Occidental, said that around 300 to 500 delegates are expected to join MARPOLEX.
Belarmino said that there will also be observers and participants from Association of Southeast Asian Nations countries such as Vietnam, Korea, and the US Coast Guard.
Exercises to be conducted include search and rescue, firefighting, and operations on oil spill recovery, equipment recovery, and damage assessment.
Belarmino said that they have been preparing for the activity hosted by the Philippines this year.
The PCG BRP Gabriela Silang (OPV 8301) was deployed to this city from Panacan Wharf, Panacan, Davao City, on June 19 to participate in the exercise.
Belarmino said that the regional MARPOLEX is conducted every two years.
MARPOLEX seeks to train and enhance interoperability readiness and capability among participating countries in the event of major spillage occurring near or along the Philippines and Indonesian waters, and aims to test response strategies of the three countries, according to the PCG.
The last two MARPOLEX was held in Makassar, Indonesia in 2022 and in the Philippines in 2019, particularly in Davao.
MARPOLEX started in 1986, following the implementation of the Sulu Sulawesi Oil Spill Network Plan 1981. Japan joined exercise in 1995.