By Henry Empeño | December 2, 2024

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or drones from the United States government are expected to enhance maritime emergency response here, both to improve disaster preparedness and promote environmental and business sustainability in this free port.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose L. Aliño said the U.S. Embassy in Manila donated six units of drones, as well as two Starlink mobile internet kits that can provide a compact and portable means for high-speed, low-latency internet on the go.

The unmanned monitoring equipment are expected to further strengthen Subic’s capacity to handle maritime emergencies and respond to pollution incidents in Subic, Aliño said in a press briefing on Wednesday, Oct. 27.

Aliño added that the US Embassy has also provided comprehensive training to SBMA personnel on the effective use of the drones to boost monitoring and response capabilities of SBMA seaport, fire, and law enforcement departments.

The new equipment will also become an important asset for the newly-formed Inter-Agency Task Force for Maritime Incidents and Emergency Response (IATF-MIER) that primarily aims to ensure efficient handling of environmental emergencies in Subic.

The IATF-MIER is a partnership formed recently between the SBMA and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Bureau of Customs (BOC), PNP Maritime Group, and the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA).

Aliño described the IATF-MIER as a “whole-of-government approach to manage maritime-related incidents” by tapping into the expertise of specialized agencies involved in maritime operations.

“This is timely in light of the recent oil spills along the coast of Bataan, (that wreaked) havoc on marine life, as well as the livelihood of maritime stakeholders,” Aliño said. 

The task force will also undertake information and education campaigns in nearby coastal communities to heighten awareness on the prevention of maritime incidents, he added.

Aside from addressing emergency situation, the IATF-MIER is also tasked with identifying potential emergency situations that can cause illness or injury to humans and the environment, and propose mitigation efforts to prevent adverse environmental impacts or effects to humans.

The Subic Bay Freeport, which is being developed as a multi-modal logistics hub, has 15 piers and wharves, as well as a container terminal with a capacity of 600,000 TEUs. 

Recently, Subic authorities have taken concrete steps to strengthen maritime emergency response as part of enhancing Subic’s operational efficiency to meet the increasing demand for multi-modal logistics in the region.

Essential to this program are systems automation to make cargo movement seamless and transactions much faster and more efficient; infrastructure investment to rehabilitate port facilities and modernize equipment; and expanding SBMA’s network and creating partnerships with different ports and agencies. 