PH, Japan, Indonesia hold marine pollution exercise in Negros Occidental

The coast guards of the Philippines, Japan, and Indonesia are now conducting the Regional Maritime Pollution Exercise (MARPOLEX) in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said Wednesday.

“Ongoing yung exercise na ating ginagawa sa kasalukuyan dito sa Bacolod (The exercise is ongoing in Bacolod)," PCG spokesperson Rear Admiral Armand Balilo said in an interview on Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon.

Balilo said around 300 personnel and five vessels will participate in the exercise.

The biennial exercise includes activities that cover environmental protection from oil spill and interoperability of the coast guards of concerned countries.

For Wednesday, Balilo said participants held an exercise on cleanup and rescue operations during a fire incident at sea.

The directors of the exercise are Philippines’ Vice Admiral Roy Echeverria, Indonesia’s Rear Admiral Jon Kenedi (DGST), and Japan’s Captain Sase Koichi.

Department of Transportation assistant secretary for maritime Julius Yano during the opening ceremony on Tuesday expressed gratitude for the participation of the two foreign countries.

“I want to sincerely thank the Directorate General of Sea Transportation (DGST) of the Republic of Indonesia and the Japan Coast Guard (JCG) for your unwavering support for this endeavor… to develop our capabilities to combat marine pollution,” he said.

For Yano, the exercise is an opportunity for the three countries to share knowledge and best practices, as well as build strong partnerships in maritime safety and marine environmental protection.

Yano pointed out the critical role of the PCG personnel in protecting, preserving, and conserving the Philippines’ rich marine environment as “environmental warriors.” — Joviland Rita/RSJ, GMA Integrated News