The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Oil Spill Response Limited (OSRL) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to enhance the country’s capability to respond to oil spill in the morning of 24-February-2020.

Vice Admiral George Ursabia of the PCG – Marine Environment Protection Command (MEPCOM) expressed his gratitude to the OSRL for their willingness to assist the PCG in improving the knowledge, skills, and expertise of MEPCOM personnel in containing, mitigating, and recovering spilled oil in Philippine waters.

Meanwhile, Darren Waterman, OSRL Regional Director for Asia Pacific shared that protecting the oceans and seas from the negative impacts of oil spill is their priority to uphold marine environment protection.

Captain Rudyard Somera of the PCG – National Operation Center for Oil Pollution (NOCOP) assured maritime stakeholders and the general public that the PCG remains at the forefront of protecting the country’s marine environment by actively responding to marine pollution incidents, strengthening its manpower, and improving its equipment and resources for the benefit of the future generation.

By integrating local and international resources for the building of comprehensive communication systems, generating baseline information, and increasing pool of expertise, OSRL and PCG believe that the marine environmental hazards of sea navigation will continue to be reduced significantly, amid modernization of the maritime industry.

The Philippines is a signatory to IMO Conventions on Marine Pollution of 1973 and 1978 (MARPOL 73/78). The PCG under RA 9993 is the sole agency responsible for the Philippine implementation of the Conventions with regard to oil pollution, prevention, mitigation and control through the conduct of marine pollution monitoring and control, enhancement of PCG capability and oil spill response operations and enforcement of all marine environmental laws and regulations.