The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has called for a meeting with government agencies and other concerned groups to work together on issues related to the alleged e waste shipments in Subic, following public calls from an environmental protection group for immediate government action.
The meeting is intended to bring all involved parties together to better understand the situation, clarify the roles and responsibilities of each agency, ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations, and identify practical and lawful solutions moving forward.
Those invited to the meeting include the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Department of Justice (DOJ), and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), as well as environmental organizations such as Basel Action Network, Sustainable Electronics Recycling International (SERI), and the Ecowaste Coalition.
The coordination meeting comes as the BOC continues to pursue legal remedies in connection with the alleged e-waste shipments, which remain the subject of ongoing judicial proceedings and are currently under appeal before the appropriate court through the Office of the Solicitor General. In view of the pending case, the BOC is constrained from discussing its specific details but remains fully engaged in the legal process in accordance with the law.
Customs Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno said the coordination meeting is intended to promote clarity and cooperation while the legal process continues.
“Habang nasa ilalim pa ng judicial review ang kaso, mahalaga na magkausap ang lahat ng concerned agencies at stakeholders para mas malinaw nating maunawaan ang isyu, ang kani kaniyang roles, at ang mga batas at regulasyong dapat sundin. The coordination meeting will help make sure that all actions are coordinated and carried out in compliance with the law.,” Commissioner Nepomuceno said.
Meanwhile, Customs operations at the Port of Subic continue. Existing procedures remain in place, and coordination with other agencies is ongoing to support environmental and regulatory safeguards.
The Bureau of Customs remains focused on carrying out its mandate in accordance with the law while working closely with concerned agencies to address the issue through coordinated and appropriate measures.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), through the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) Olongapo City, received a Plaque of Appreciation from the Sealift Amphibious Force (SAF) in recognition of its partnership in implementing environmental protection and natural resource management initiatives that promote environmental sustainability and responsible stewardship.
CENRO Olongapo City Head Edward Sernadilla said the office has worked closely with the Sealift Amphibious Force in carrying out environmental programs and collaborative activities that strengthen conservation efforts while promoting the sustainable management of natural resources within their respective areas of responsibility.
DENR Regional Executive Director Ralph Pablo said the recognition reflects the importance of sustained partnerships in protecting the country’s natural resources.
“Environmental protection is a shared responsibility. Our partnership with SAF demonstrates how government agencies can work together to safeguard our forests, coastal areas, and marine ecosystems while supporting sustainable development and national security,” Pablo said.
For her part, Marife Castillo, head of the DENR provincial office in Zambales, said collaboration remains essential in addressing environmental challenges in the province.
“Zambales is home to valuable coastal and marine ecosystems that support biodiversity and the livelihoods of many communities. Through our continued partnership SAF and other stakeholders, we can further strengthen conservation efforts and ensure these natural resources remain protected for future generations,” Castillo ended.
The recognition was conferred during the celebration of the Sealift Amphibious Force’s 80th Founding Anniversary, marking eight decades of dedicated service in strengthening the country’s maritime defense capabilities and supporting sealift and amphibious operations.

More than 200 residents of Sta. Cruz and Candelaria, Zambales gained easier access to government services and community support initiatives as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) brought a mobile permitting drive and environmental assistance directly to their barangays in line with the Earth Day celebration.

CENRO Masinloc Officer Donaver Guevarra reported that the two-day activity enabled residents of Barangays Guisguis, Guinabon, and Uacon to receive on-site assistance for chainsaw registration, land titling, tree-cutting permits, and tenurial instrument applications.

He added that the office also distributed 50,000 forestry and fruit-bearing seedlings to support reforestation, biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation, and sustainable livelihood opportunities in local communities.

Marife Castillo, provincial head of the DENR office in Zambales, said the activity demonstrated how bringing services closer to communities can improve public access to government assistance while strengthening local participation in environmental protection efforts.

“By bringing both services and environmental support directly to the barangays, we are helping communities access government assistance more easily while encouraging shared responsibility in protecting and restoring our natural resources,” Castillo said.

DENR Regional Executive Director Ralph Pablo said delivering DENR services at the barangay level helps make government assistance more accessible while encouraging stronger public participation in environmental protection.

“Taking DENR services to the barangay level removes barriers for ordinary citizens and shows that protecting our forests goes hand in hand with serving the public. When communities, government and industry work together, we plant not only trees but also long-term resilience,” Pablo said.

The activity was conducted in partnership with Eramen Minerals Inc., Zambales Diversified Metals Corp., and Zambales Chromite Mining Inc., in support of their environmental protection, rehabilitation, and reforestation commitments.

Guevarra said CENRO Masinloc will continue to strengthen community-based programs and partnerships that promote better public service access, sustainable development, and responsible stewardship of natural resources.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), in partnership with various stakeholders, carried out a series of mangrove rehabilitation activities at a mangrove area in Barangay South Poblacion within the Masinloc and Oyon Bay Protected Landscape and Seascape (MOBPLS) in Zambales.

Spanning more than 7,500 hectares, the MOBPLS is a protected area known for its rich coastal and marine biodiversity. It includes 86 hectares of mangrove forests, 800 hectares of seagrass beds, and 1,500 hectares of coral reef systems that support local fisheries and help protect shoreline communities.

The rehabilitation activity sought to strengthen coastal protection and enhance marine biodiversity through the restoration of degraded mangrove areas. It also highlighted the critical role of mangroves in stabilizing shorelines and providing habitat for marine species.

Community Environment and Natural Resources Office Masinloc Chief Donaver Guevarra reported that over 9,000 mangrove propagules were planted across an estimated one-hectare area. The propagules included 𝘙𝘩𝘪𝘻𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘢 𝘢𝘱𝘪𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘢 and 𝘙𝘩𝘪𝘻𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘢 𝘴𝘵𝘺𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘢, species considered suitable to the site’s zoning, soil type, and environmental conditions.

The Barangay Local Government Unit of South Poblacion, Mother Rita Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Taltal National High School, and the DENR-Protected Area Management Office joined the activity, demonstrating strong collaboration among government, community, and institutional partners in advancing environmental conservation.

“We are pleased to see the active participation of the community and our partners in this mangrove rehabilitation effort. Initiatives like this are crucial in restoring our coastal ecosystems and ensuring that future generations continue to benefit from the protection and resources that mangroves provide,” Guevarra said.

DENR Regional Executive Director Ralph Pablo likewise underscored the importance of sustained environmental action.

“Mangrove rehabilitation is a key component of our strategy to protect coastal communities from climate-related risks while preserving biodiversity. Through continued collaboration with local stakeholders, we can strengthen our programs and achieve lasting environmental gains,” Pablo said.

The DENR said sustained partnerships and active community involvement remain essential to maintaining mangrove rehabilitation efforts and ensuring the long-term protection of coastal and marine ecosystems.

Established under Republic Act No. 11038, the MOBPLS is the first and only marine protected area in Central Luzon and plays a vital role in biodiversity conservation and the sustainable management of natural resources. It is home to 33 mangrove species, mostly belonging to the families Rhizophoraceae, Avicenniaceae, and Sonneratiaceae. Among these is the flagship hybrid species 𝘙𝘩𝘪𝘻𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘢 × 𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘪, a natural hybrid of 𝘙. 𝘢𝘱𝘪𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘢 and 𝘙. 𝘴𝘵𝘺𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘢

These mangroves provide key ecological benefits by serving as natural barriers against storm surges and coastal erosion, functioning as nursery habitats for fish and other marine organisms, and contributing to carbon sequestration that helps mitigate climate change.

Senior Deputy Administrator Amethya dela Llana, head of Ecology Department of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) said she “will issue a show cause” order to the Philippine Coastal Storage & Pipeline Corporation (PCSPC) for the fuel oil slick that currents carried across the pristine waters of Subic Bay.

“I will call for a technical conference when I issue a show cause”, dela Llana said.

Diesel is considered as “one of the most acutely toxic oil types” that can taint and impact marine life like fish, crabs, sea weeds and corals, but may also affect birds “by direct contact”.

According to dela Llana, the slick “might be diesel” based on the pictures taken by Subic Bay News from 11:03 AM to 12:24 PM showing the fuel oil slick, estimated a hundred meter long and around 15 meters wide at some point, travel several kilometers from the PCSPC ports to the shores of Subic Bay International Airport (SBIA).

PCSPC did not respond to messages sent by Subic Bay News to inquire on the matter.

PCSPC denied the possibility of their piers being the source of a spill, according to dela Llana, when she called the company’s attention.

“Ako po mismo ang nagtanong,” she said, but was told “no operation and wala pong barko ang Coastal (PSCPC) ngayon”. However, it appears that PCSPC lied to dela Llana because at least three vessels were at the company’s piers on Thursday morning, namely MT Jag Parth, MT Chelsea Excellence and MT Hoya Grace.

The source of the spill may not necessarily have come from vessels, though, as it could also have come from PCSPC’s own fuel pipes on the piers leading to and from the company’s several storage tanks with a total capacity of around one billion liters.

PCSPC, also referred to as Coastal, may face stiff fines and penalties, on top of a tarnished image if found responsible for the Maundy Thursday fuel oil spill in Subic Bay. (VVV) ###

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — Some 800 sea turtle or “pawikan” hatchlings were released by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Subic Bay and the coastal areas of San Narciso and Masinloc towns in Zambales.
The release was part of the annual celebration of “Pawikan Day” which primarily aims to promote marine turtle protection and conservation efforts.
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Regional Executive Director Ralph Pablo said the olive ridley sea turtles are important to the ecosystem.
“Their existence is an important indicator of a balanced and healthy marine life,” he pressed.
Pablo likewise urged communities to help DENR in protecting marine species and other wildlife by reporting illegal activities, especially wildlife trade, to the authorities.
Olive ridley, also known as the Pacific ridley, is the second smallest and most abundant species of sea turtles in the world. It thrives in warm and tropical waters, primarily in the Pacific and Indian Oceans.
In Central Luzon, these species nests in the coastal towns of Morong in Bataan, San Antonio in Zambales, and in some coastal areas of Aurora.
Due to their vulnerability to extinction, the species are protected by Section 27 of Republic Act 9147, otherwise known as the “Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act,” which prohibits collecting, hunting, and possessing of wildlife and their by-products and derivatives.
Anyone found guilty of violating the law shall be imprisoned to a maximum of two years and shall be fined of up to P200,000, if inflicted against endangered species. (PIA 3)

To ensure the conservation of future generations of Philippine eagles and their territories, and allow new generations to thrive and co-exist with other threatened wildlife, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), through its Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB), calls on all Filipinos to help protect forest habitat.

In a press release issued on Tuesday, DENR Assistant Secretary and concurrent BMB Director Marcial Amaro Jr. said that as the country celebrates the 25th Philippine Eagle Week (PEW) from June 4 to 10, the department looks back at its achievements in conserving the iconic and critically endangered Philippine eagle for a quarter of a century now.

Amaro said that by conserving national patrimony, the DENR-BMB improved and harmonized conservation efforts and has put forward strategies to curb the direct and indirect threats to Philippine eagle populations. He said relevant conservation actions include habitat restoration, law enforcement, management of captive and wild populations, research, and conservation education.

“The habitats conserved locally and protected by communities significantly contribute to environmental stability and security of human well-being, in the looming threats of climate change,” Amaro said. However, Amaro said more work needs to be done to ensure the survival and viability of the prized raptor which is considered a “national treasure.” He said the Philippine eagle, whose scientific name is Pithecophaga Jefferyi, is continually being threatened by hunting and loss of habitat. In line with the celebration, several activities were held that include an art exhibit showcasing artworks depicting the Philippine eagle by Filipino artists, among others.

Amaro said the artists themselves even paid a registration fee that will be donated for the installation of a water system to a community that helps protect a Philippine eagle habitat in Davao City.

In September last year, DENR Secretary Antonia Loyzaga called on lawmakers to prioritize the passage of proposed measures to help strengthen Republic Act (RA) 9147, or the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act. Loyzaga said the support of lawmakers in the amendment of RA 9147 is crucial in advancing collective efforts and initiatives to sustainably manage the country’s wildlife resources. The Philippine eagle is endemic to the Philippines and is the largest forest raptor in the country.

Found in the islands of Luzon, Samar, Leyte, and Mindanao, the majestic bird has been classified as critically endangered under Department Administrative Order 2019-09 or the Updated National List of Threatened Philippine Fauna and Their Categories, and by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Its uniqueness, strength, and love of freedom reflect the qualities of the Filipino people, that in 1995, the critically endangered Philippine Eagle became a national emblem through Proclamation No. 615. (PNA)

TRENTON, Canada – Air quality alerts continued Thursday for most of Canada as smoke from hundreds of wildfires blanketed the country.
Millions of Canadians have been told to stay indoors, and forecasts for the most populated area in Toronto and the region predict the smoke will increase through the end of the week.
As of Wednesday, 414 wildfires were burning, including 239 out of control. That’s up from 211 wildfires reported at the end of May.
Thousands of firefighters from around the world, including from the US, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico and South Africa are battling the fires.
Wildfire season begins in early May as protective snow melts and lightning strikes and careless campfires ignite tinder-dry forests that cover much of the country.
Fires in northern Quebec forced more than 11,400 people from their homes on Wednesday and more evacuation orders are expected to be issued soon, officials said. About 155 fires have been reported.
Premier Francois Legault said Wednesday that fires burning in the northern and western areas of the province will mean those evacuated will not be able to return to their homes until next week.
In British Columbia on the west coast, the second-largest wildfire in provincial history covered 310,805 hectares as of Thursday morning. About 80 wildfires were reported.
Moving eastward across the country, wildfires are still burning in Alberta – about 70 currently – and Saskatchewan but have lessened from peaks in May.
In Ontario, Environment Canada rated the air quality in the Canadian capital of Ottawa to be the worst in the country on Wednesday.
In Nova Scotia on the east coast, about 16,500 people were evacuated at the peak of a wildfire that threatened the capital city of Halifax and more than 150 homes were consumed.
Between March 1 and June 5, it is estimated that 2,214 fires have consumed 38,000 sq.km., making this year on track to be the worst in Canadian history. (Anadolu)

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT – The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), thru its Ecology Department, has chosen the Missionaries of Charity in Olongapo City to receive the proceeds from the recently concluded 11th Recyclables Collection Event (RCE) early last month.
According to SBMA Chairman and Administrator Rolen C. Paulino, 32 wards and 15 house parents from the Missionaries of Charity in Olongapo City would benefit from the proceeds amounting to P35,000 from the various forms of waste materials collected during the said event.
“With the collected wastes sold, we earned P35,000 and bought items such as shampoo, lotion, soap, towel, adult diapers, baby powder, and other household items such as alcohol, dishwashing liquid, detergent, toilet cleaner and fabric conditioner. We have turned over these items to the nuns of the Missionary of Charity to help provide much needed essentials for the beneficiaries,” he said. Aside from the aforementioned items, the beneficiaries were also given milk, biscuits, candies, chips, juice, hotdogs, and chickens. “And to make their Christmas brighter, we also bought lechon for their Christmas party,” he added.
The 11th RCE is an annual event of the agency wherein companies inside the Subic Bay Freeport Zone turn over their wastes, including hazardous and electronic waste, which will be sold. The money earned from the collected wastes are then given to a local beneficiary.

Two globally endangered black-faced spoonbills (Platalea minor) have been spotted here this week.
Rhoel Marcelo, ecosystem management specialist of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Ilocos Norte, on Tuesday showed to the media a photo of the birds with their long black spoon-shaped bills and faces covered in black skin instead of avian feathers.
“The spoonbill is the only species that has the most restricted distribution and the only one regarded as globally endangered,” he said.
Marcelo said the photo of the spoonbill was taken by Richard Ruiz, a member of the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines based in this city.
Ruiz said he was monitoring a private fish pond in Barangay Gabu that is frequented by migratory ducks and birds when he noticed two larger birds that were mixed among a faraway flock of smaller Black-winged stilts.
The birder had previously spotted a mandarin duck, another sign of migratory birds going off their usual path.
“This [spoonbill] is one of the species that we are monitoring in the DENR. We are glad that someone was able to document it in the province,” he said, adding that the birds might have come from Hong Kong or mainland China.
According to the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), only less than 2,700 Black-faced Spoonbills remain worldwide. They are listed as endangered and one of the protected species in China, Taiwan, North Korea, South Korea and Japan.
Last Jan. 13, the DENR and the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines conducted the Asian Waterbird census at the Paoay Lake Natural Park in Ilocos Norte.
Based on the latest bird census, the Paoay Lake is frequented by a variety of bird species like the Little Grebe, Great Egret, Little Egret, Cattle Egret, Philippine Duck, Tufted Duck, White-browed Crake, Common Kingfisher, White-collared Kingfisher, White-throated Kingfisher and Great Cormorant.
This year, Marcelo reported that they were able to count 3,792 waterbirds from 22 species.
Compared to last year’s 3,794, Marcelo said they were able to document new migrants this year such as the Brown Booby and the Cinnamon Bittern including a returning Whiskered Tern which was last recorded at the Paoay Lake wetlands in 2015 and 2016.
According to the DENR, the presence of waterbirds is one of the key indicators on whether wetlands, such as mangrove areas, are still ecologically healthy. (PNA)