Paje on Subic waste: It’s not over, yet

Environment Secretary Ramon Paje

Despite a finding by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Ecology Center that waste dumped into waters off the area last month was nontoxic, Environment Secretary Ramon Paje said his department had yet to accept it.

Paje said that during Monday’s technical conference, the ecology center made a presentation that showed that liquid waste collected from US ships by the tanker MT Glenn Guardian was  “domestic waste” and was, thus, not toxic.

“The department is still not accepting that completely because we still need the output of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG),” Paje said.

He said the PCG was the agency mandated to implement standards and regulations in offshore areas, including the discharge of wastewater by ships and prevention of maritime pollution.

Even if it is domestic waste, the PCG has designated specific places for dumping waste several kilometers off shore, he said.

“We would have to wait for word from the Coast Guard before coming up with our finding.  We will wait for the position of the Coastguard,” he said.

The department may then recommend possible sanctions, under the Clean Water Act and the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, against the company, based on the outcome of its investigation.