By HENRY EMPEÑO | August 3, 2026

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — The Bureau of Customs in the Port of Subic (BOC-Subic) has removed on Monday, August 3, four additional containers vans holding assorted rotten agricultural products that have overstayed at the Subic Bay International Terminal Corporation’s yard here.

These brings the total number of pulled-out containers to 25, roughly just a fifth of the 118 containers identified for urgent disposal because of their rotting and foul-smelling contents.

BOC-Subic said the containers were seized and confiscated as early as 2022 and 2023 for violation of Department of Health-Food and Drugs Administration Administrative Order No. 2020-0017 and Department of Agriculture Administrative Order No. 9 series of 2010, in relation to Section 1113 (f) of Republic Act No. 10863, otherwise known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA).

The containers remained unclaimed since then and were declared abandoned after the prescribed period. Under the CMTA, imported containers and cargoes are deemed impliedly abandoned if the owner fails to file a goods declaration within 7 days from discharge, pay duties within 15 days of assessment, or claim the goods within 30 days of payment.

The containers, holding mostly assorted meat and other food products, are refrigerated vans that were reportedly switched off after being unclaimed for several years.

Hauling of the abandoned containers from Subic officially started last May 26, following the assumption of Atty. Geniefelle Lagmay as new BOC District Collector here.

Contents of the abandoned containers were dumped and destroyed mostly at the Alee Rendering Facility and the EDA Waste Recycling Non-Hazardous Solid Waste Collection Services, both in Bulacan.

The disposal is reportedly taking long because of legal red tape, complex clearance procedures, and bureaucratic delays, as well as the availability of condemnation facilities.

PUTRID SMELL

The overstaying containers came into public view in October last year when operators of the nearby All Hands Beach Resort complained of a persistent stench coming from the container yard that they said was driving away customers and posing health risks to both employees and visitors.

Last May 28, the resort formally lodged a complaint before the Regional Trial Court in Olongapo City, seeking to stop what is said was a public hazard, and to compel the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) for action.

On July 19, All Hands management discovered some form of foamy slime that washed along their beachfront.

An investigation by the Philippine Coast Guard, alongside the SBMA Ecology Center and SBMA Seaport Department, on July 24 and 25 identified it as leachate. This was traced to the overstaying container vans under the control of BOC at the SBITC yard.

On July 27, the SBMA confirmed in a statement that the leachate was “being discharged from a man-made water channel into adjacent marine waters.”

Without naming any party, SBMA said it had instructed the “entity alleged to be responsible” to cease further wastewater discharge, install filtration system at the drainage outlet, deploy floating containment barriers to restrict contaminant dispersion, and recover and dispose of the floating scum properly.

The SBMA added that it will continuously monitor the affected area, and will pursue appropriate enforcement actions should any violation of environmental laws, regulations, or permit conditions be confirmed. ▲