Missing fisherman returned to family by SBMA, PCG

A rescued fisherman aboard cargo vessel MV Shin Line 10 was turned over to the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Saturday. 

According to a report from the PCG, the 52-year-old fisherman from Brgy Petal, Dasol, Pangasinan, who was later identified as Rodolfo Montes, was picked up by MV Shin Line 10, a cargo ship that was en route to Subic Bay Freeport. 

Information disclosed by the SBMA Law Enforcement Department revealed that Montes was declared missing since July 24, 2025, after their boat capsized due to bad weather conditions. 

Cargo vessel MV Shin Line 10 responded to the distress call from the PCG and rescued Montes amid the powerful wind waves of Lingayen Gulf at around 6:45pm on July 25, 2025.

Montes was given immediate medical attention by the SBMA Public Health and Safety Department (PHSD) and was thereafter turned over to his son and Barangay officials of Petal. 

The group then departed for Dasol, Pangasinan after the patient was given clearance to travel by the PHSD. (MPD-SBMA)

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SBMA, Subic companies augment equipment to control oil spill in Bataan

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and the Subic Freeport community have mobilized additional equipment to control the oil spill in Bataan.

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose L. Aliño said that the SBMA has allowed the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to use its 160-meter spill boom last Friday to help contain the oil spill from the MT Terra Nova that sank off the waters of Limay town on Thursday.

Aliño said that the SBMA is willing to provide any assistance to the PCG by lending equipment from the agency’s Seaport Department. The SBMA helped the PCG provide the needed equipment at the Subic Bay Yacht Club (SBYC).

“We hope that they would also use it not just for the MT Terra Nova incident, but also for the MTKR Jason Bradley that sank on the coastal waters of Mariveles,” he added.

The SBMA conducted an emergency meeting thru Senior Deputy Administrator for Operations Ronnie Yambao last week to discuss the deployment of the oil spill boom using the PCG’s BRP Suluan.

Meanwhile, two towage companies were also tapped to assist in containing the oil spill from MT Terra Nova using their expertise, equipment, and tugboats. Yambao identified the companies as Harbor Star Shipping Services Inc. and Malayan Towage and Salvage Corp.

“The two companies have requested from the Operations Branch of the Seaport Department to exit the Port of Subic to respond to the oil spill in Limay,” he added.

Harbor Star Shipping Services Inc. mobilized siphoning equipment to extract at least 300,000 liters of industrial fuel oil (IFO). At least 50,000 liters of IFO are targeted to be siphoned per day.

Recently, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) held a joint meeting with the national and regional disaster risk reduction committee to address the Bataan oil spill incident.

DILG Sec. Atty. Benjamin C. Abalos Jr. led the meeting along with the National at Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils.

Bataan Gov. Joet Garcia, Pampanga Gov. Dennis Pineda, and other government agencies were also present to discuss possible actions to avert massive oil spill in the region. (MPD-SBMA)

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BOC Port of Subic acquires 2 patrol boats

In an effort to strengthen its maritime security capabilities in this premier Freeport, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) Port of Subic has launched two new water patrol boats.

Port of Subic District Collector Atty. Maritess Martin said that the 12.7-meter patrol boats, which they acquired from the head office, are capable of reaching speeds of over 45 knots and will be used by the BOC in boarding formalities, patrol and water pursuit within the nation’s borders.

Martin also said that these two boats are built to complete demanding missions with absolute reliability. She added that these boats will primarily be deployed for rapid interception of smugglers to foil smuggling activities and other fraudulent activities through consistent patrolling.

The two fast patrol boats will be used for the joint operations of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the BOC Port of Subic in suppressing smuggling activities in our shores, and to carry out customs-related operations.

Martin also expressed her gratitude to Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Rolen C. Paulino for supporting the agency’s undertakings in this premier Freeport.

“The Port of Subic is just so excited and privileged to be given the opportunity to continue our service, not only through the collection of lawful revenue, but also by patrolling our waters thus prevent smuggling,” she said.

Chairman Paulino, moreover, lauded the efforts of BOC Port of Subic for protecting the waters of this premier Freeport, citing that this will provide full support in the agency’s endeavor in preventing smuggling.

Meanwhile, BOC Water Patrol Division SP Maj. Danielo S. Gonzales, and ESS-CPD District Commander S/P Capt. Vincent Mark S. Malasmas was also present during the inauguration of the two patrol boats. (MPD-SBMA)

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Coast Guard continues patrol in disputed waters

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said Tuesday it will continue patrolling in the West Philippine Sea following the decision of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) favoring the Philippines’ case against China’s territorial claim to the disputed waters.

Coast Guard Spokesman Commander Armand Balilo said he has instructions on what action to take in the West Philippine Sea but for the meantime said the Coast Guard vessel BRP Pampanga will continue to patrol the area from Subic to Northern Luzon.

BRP Pampanga

Balilo said that although the vessel’s position far from the Scarborough Shoal, it is ideal that the BRP Pampanga is already at sea so it can immediately deploy once orders arrive.

Once the BRP Pampanga is deployed at the Scarborough Shoal, it will likely stay there for only a few days at a time, he said.

He recalled that when they went to the shoal in 2013, they stayed there with a vessel from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) for four days before another ship arrived.

“Vessels take turns at the Shoal every three to four days,” he said, adding that they have a smaller ship available for deployment.

He said that the Coast Guard has been conducting sovereignty patrols in the West Philippine Sea since 2013 but only covered 12 nautical miles as ordered by Coast Guard Rear Admiral William Melad.

“We have not been approaching Scarborough Shoal but BRP Pangasinan has been patrolling along the territorial waters. For national security reasons, Admiral Melad gave an order to not go beyond 12 nautical miles,” Balilo said. (Argyll Cyrus B. Geducos, Manila Bulletin)

http://www.mb.com.ph/coast-guard-continues-patrol-in-disputed-waters/

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SBMA, partner-orgs provide 10-day lifeguard training

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and Redondo Peninsula Energy, Inc. (RPEnergy), in cooperation with the Philippine Coast Guard, Brent International School Subic, and Zambales Lifesaving Inc. (ZLI), have started a 10-day lifeguard training course for young adults and indigenous residents from the municipality of Iba, Zambales, Olongapo City, and Sitio Pastolan in Hermosa, Bataan.

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Roberto Garcia said the lifeguard course would equip participants with the necessary aquatic safety knowledge and skills, which they may consider as a future profession, while they aid calamity-stricken areas in the country.

“Swimming can both be fun and dangerous, but with the presence of trained and skilled lifeguards in swimming areas such as pools and beaches, and especially during times of strong typhoons and raging floods, it can prevent the loss of lives,“ Garcia said.

Litz Santana, Meralco PowerGen’s vice president and head of External Affairs, added, “Not only does this training create the feeling of a safer and more secure community; it also creates job opportunities for certified graduates.”

Meanwhile, Roger Bound, ZLI president and program director said, “It is a great privilege for us to be able to share our expertise with those who are willing, able, disciplined, and passionate to help localities especially during calamities, which take lives and leave families heartbroken from missing love ones.”

ZLI is a non-stock, non-profit organization that was established in 2015 to promote and educate interested residents in coastal communities about lifesaving activities and drowning prevention.

Redondo Peninsula Energy, Inc. (RP Energy) is a consortium composed of Meralco Power Gen (MGen), Aboitiz Power Corporation, and Taiwan Cogeneration International Corporation, which will soon operate a 600-megawatt coal-fired power plant at the Redondo Peninsula in Subic, Zambales.

The lifeguard training course will run from May 10 to 19, 2016 here in Subic Bay Freeport.

Successful candidates will be given certificates that will qualify them to serve as professional lifeguards here and abroad. The graduation ceremony will be held at Crystal Beach, San Narciso, Zambales. (MPD-SBMA)

PHOTOS:
Philippine Coast Guard members train young adults to become certified lifeguards equipped with the knowledge and skills to save lives during times of strong typhoons and raging floods in the locality.

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Coast Guard releases North Korea ship

After almost three weeks of being detained at the Port of Subic, the Philippine Coast Guard released the North Korean cargo ship M/V Jin Teng and its 21 crewmen last Holy Thursday.

PCG spokesman Commander Armand Balilo said that there was no deliberate intention to set the vessel and its crew free during the Holy Week when almost everyone was preoccupied with vacation and Lenten activities.

Philippines Coast Guard officials inspect North Korean freighter Jin Teng in Subic Bay in this handout photo from the coast guard on March 3, 2016. (Reuters/ PCG handout via Reuters)

“It just so happened that we received the order to release the ship M/V Jin Teng so we implemented (it),” Balilo said.

Transportation and Communications Undersecretary for Operations Edwin Lopez signed the release order, he added.

The vessel and its crew were detained on March 3 while unloading palm kernel and other agricultural products. Although the inspectors found nothing illegal when it was first checked on March 3, it was held at port following an order from the United Nations.

Inspectors who checked the ship noted that some of the fire hose boxes were empty and not ready for immediate use, a few emergency light bulbs were either busted or not working, the ballast air vent heads at the main deck were corroded and some electrical switches in the sub panel board at the engine room with 440 volts were without insulation materials.

Balilo said the defects have been remedied and the foreign ship was given clearance by the Coast Guard’s Port State Control before they were allowed to leave.

The North Korean ship’s release was in coordination with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

The 4,355 gross ton M/V Jin Teng was flying a Sierra Leone flag registry and was one of 31 vessels owned by North Korean shipping firm Ocean Maritime Management Company (OMM) that was ordered blacklisted by the United Nations on suspicion that it was used in smuggling weapons of mass destruction.

Throughout its stay at the Port of Subic, the Bureau of Immigration did not issue shore passes to the 21 North Korean crewmembers.

The ship’s next port of destination is Shindao, China. (Evelyn Macairan, The Philippine Star)

http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2016/03/27/1566570/coast-guard-releases-north-korea-ship

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UN lifts sanctions on 4 ships once linked to North Korea

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. Security Council has decided to lift sanctions on four ships originally linked to a North Korean shipping company after determining that there were no ties to the company as China claimed.

Two U.N. diplomats confirmed Tuesday that the Security Council committee monitoring sanctions against North Korea has taken the ships off the U.N. blacklist. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying also confirmed the move in a statement provided by a spokesman from China's U.N. Mission.

One of the ships that had sanctions lifted is the Jin Teng, which was on the list of 31 ships linked to North Korea's Ocean Maritime Management company whose vessels have carried arms and illegal goods to the country.

It was inspected and detained in Subic Bay, a former U.S.-run naval base in The Philippines, soon after the Security Council imposed its toughest-ever sanctions on North Korea on March 2.

The Philippines Coast Guard said it was coming from Indonesia and loaded with palm kernel expeller, which is a byproduct of palm oil production that has several uses, including as feed for farm animals. It said the ship's documents showed the cargo was for consignees in the Philippines and no new cargo would be loaded at Subic Bay.

China asked the sanctions committee to remove the four ships from the list after discovering that they were not part of Ocean Maritime Management's fleet.

The United States and China, North Korea's traditional ally, spent seven weeks negotiating new sanctions in response to the North's fourth nuclear test in January and rocket launch in February.

They include, among other things, mandatory inspections of cargo leaving and entering North Korea by sea or air.

PHOTO:
The Jin Teng, docked at the Port of Subic

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/a1c266e9cb16484e931a1735caf8af4b/un-lifts-sanctions-4-ships-once-linked-north-korea

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Palace: NoKor ship stays until probe is completed

MALACAÑANG yesterday said the North Korean vessel being held at the Subic Bay Freeport would remain under Philippine custody until the investigation is completed and a decision is reached on what to do with the ship.

Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said the Philippines is committed to upholding a United Nations Security Council resolution that restricts the movement of vessels that may be used in transporting equipment or armaments that the UN seeks to restrict.

“The Philippine government is complying with the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2270 on the imposition of sanctions pertaining to North Korea. For this reason, the M/V Jin Teng has been impounded in the port of Subic, Zambales...It was decided that the Coast Guard will continue to hold the vessel at port until the ongoing inquiry and investigation has been completed. It was also agreed that the crew may be allowed to leave if justified by the results of the investigation,” Coloma said.

He said an interagency body composed of the foreign affairs, transportation, and justice departments, along with the Bureau of Immigration and Philippine Coast Guard has met with the National Coast Watch Center to discuss further actions on the vessel.

Last Monday, the Department of Foreign Affairs said no date has been set as to when the 21 crew members of the vessel would be allowed to leave the country.

The Jin Teng is registered and flagged under multiple countries but is said to be one of the 31 listed vessels owned by North Korea. It arrived in Subic Bay on March 4 and was impounded by the Philippine Coast Guard.

The UN resolution, which was passed after a North Korean nuclear test in January and a long-range rocket test in February, requires all member states to inspect all cargo ships to and from North Korea.

It also bans all exports including coal, iron, iron ore, gold, titanium ore, vanadium ore, rare earth metals, and all types of aviation fuel to North Korea. (Jocelyn Montemayor, Malaya)

PHOTO:
Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr.

http://www.malaya.com.ph/business-news/news/palace-nokor-ship-stays-until-probe-completed

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PHL waits for UN response on impounded North Korean ship

THE Philippine coast guard said it was closely watching a North Korean vessel and its 21 crew members on Sunday, as officials waited for a response from the United Nations days after the ship was seized in compliance with new sanctions.

The 6,830-ton cargo ship, the Jin Teng, is being held at Subic port, northeast of Manila, where the Philippine coast guard is guarding the freighter and monitoring its crew, said coast guard spokesman Commander Armand Balilo.

“We will probably keep it in Subic pending our request for guidance on its disposition,” he said.

The ship’s 21 North Korean crew members remain onboard but are otherwise not restricted, he told AFP.

“They are just on the ship. They are remaining there. They have provisions of their own. They won’t try to escape,” Mr. Balilo said, adding there was no need to provide them with any supplies yet.

Earlier this week, a government spokesman said the North Koreans would eventually be deported, but there has been no confirmation when that would take place.

The Philippines said on Saturday, authorities had impounded the vessel in accordance with fresh UN sanctions introduced in the wake of Pyongyang’s recent nuclear and ballistic missile tests.

It was the first reported enforcement of the sanctions, the toughest to date, which were adopted late Wednesday by the UN Security Council.

Mr. Balilo said the coast guard has inspected the ship twice, once using electronic sensors to search for weapons. However, no contraband has been found.

A team from the UN is expected to inspect the ship in Subic, a former United States naval base, foreign affairs spokesman Charles Jose said earlier.

The Jin Teng arrived in the Philippines from Palembang, Indonesia, on Thursday afternoon, just hours after the latest sanctions were unanimously passed.

In response to the UN’s move, Pyongyang fired six short-range missiles into the sea on Thursday, while North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un ordered its nuclear arsenal put on standby for pre-emptive use at any time. (AFP)

PHOTO:
This general view shows the North Korean cargo ship Jin Teng, anchored at the former US naval base at Subic port, north of Manila, on March 4. (AFP)

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North Korean cargo ship inspected in Subic Bay

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine coast guard inspected a North Korean cargo vessel that docked at a port northwest of Manila in one of the first such checks since the U.N. Security Council imposed further sanctions on Pyongyang over its nuclear program.

The MV Jin Teng was inspected in Subic Bay, a former U.S.-run naval base, after it arrived Thursday from Balembang, Indonesia, loaded with palm kernel expeller, Coast Guard Commander Raul Belesario said Friday.

Belesario, who heads the port control division that includes Subic, said five coast guard personnel accompanied by two bomb sniffer dogs boarded the vessel Thursday. The inspectors did not find any suspicious materials but spotted minor deficiencies including missing fire hoses, a corroded air vent, and electrical switches without insulation.

Another inspection will be done before the ship sails for southwestern China’s Zhanjiang port, and the ship will only be allowed to depart if the deficiencies have been rectified, he added. The vessel’s departure date is unclear.

As of Friday, cargo was still being unloaded from the ship. Palm kernel expeller is a byproduct of palm oil production and has several uses, including as feed for farm animals.

The ship’s documents showed the cargo was for consignees in the Philippines and no new cargo would be loaded at Subic Bay, Belesario said.

The Security Council on Wednesday unanimously approved the toughest sanctions on North Korea in two decades, reflecting growing anger at Pyongyang’s latest nuclear test and rocket launch in defiance of a ban on all nuclear-related activity.

The United States and North Korea’s traditional ally China spent seven weeks negotiating the new sanctions. They include mandatory inspections of cargo leaving and entering North Korea by sea or air, a ban on all sales or transfers of small arms and light weapons to Pyongyang, and expulsion of diplomats from the North who engage in “illicit activities.” (Associated Press)

PHOTO:
Crewmen of the North Korean cargo vessel Jin Teng stand on the middle of the deck as it unloads its cargo while docked at Subic Bay, in Zambales province, northwest of Manila, Philippines, Friday, March 4, 2016. The Philippine coast guard inspected a North Korean cargo vessel that docked at a port northwest of Manila in one of the first such checks since the U.N. Security Council imposed further sanctions on Pyongyang over its nuclear program. (AP Photo/Jun Dumaguing)

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Coast Guard and auxiliary group hold Subic environment run

A helicopter flew overhead, raining down confetti on the assembled crowd as the fun run for a cause organized by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary (PCGA) kicked off on Saturday here.

Aiming to preserve the wellness of both the participants and the environment, the “Takbo Para sa Kaligtasan at Kalinisan ng Karagatan at Kalikasan” gathered close to 600 registered runners, both young and old, for the three kilometer-length categories — 10k, 5k, and 3k.

Philippine triathlete John Leerams Chicano led the first finishers in the 10k category, breaking the finish line with determination in his eyes. Chicano was followed by Christian Carl Denotua and Redgeth Linen for the second and third place, respectively.

In the 5k category, meanwhile, Clyde Supnet controlled the pace, trailed by Jimuel Patilan and Ruperto Dela Cruz Jr.

The 3k event was topped by Roel Bada, Rolly Innovero and Jason Villaruz for first, second, and third place, respectively.

All the top three finishers in each category received token cash and gift prizes. The third placers got P500 cash, second placers P750, and first placers P1,000.

The event was considered a success, as there were no losers — only runners who wanted to make a difference for the environment and for themselves.

Chicano, who was sick a week earlier, said he joined the run “to improve my health.”

A young boy echoed the motivation, saying “Para po makatulong sa kalikasan at upang makapag- ehersisyo na rin.”

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Deputy Administrator Randy Escolango, who helped organize the event as commander of the PCGA in Subic, said all the proceeds from the fun run would go to the group’s environmental projects for the preservation of the seas and coast, including shore clean-up drives, sea protection awareness campaigns, and other related projects.

“Events like these are being encouraged by SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia, because he wants to emphasize that Subic Bay Freeport can better maintain its reputation as a sports capital if we maintain a clean environment to better attract sports enthusiasts," Escolango added.

All the top 3 of each category received cash and gift prizes - P500 for third place, P750 for second place, and P1,000 for first place. (ADP/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:
Runners take part in “Takbo Para sa Kaligtasan at Kalinisan ng Karagatan at Kalikasan” organized by the Philippine Coast Guard and the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary at the Remy Field in Subic Bay Freeport Zone on Saturday. The run aims to raise funds for the local PCGA chapter’s future shore clean-up drives, sea protection awareness campaigns and other related projects.

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US Coast Guard lauds Subic Bay port security plan

A ranking officer of the United States Coast Guard praised the port security plan being implemented by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and pier operators here, saying it is one of the best there is today.

US Coast Guard Lt. Commander Justin Moyer made the evaluation during a tabletop exercise and drill on SBMA’s port security held Wednesday at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center (SBECC).

The event, which gathered participants from the SBMA and Subic Freeport pier operators, as well as representatives from the Philippine Coast Guard and the maritime police, was organized by the Office for Transportation Security (OTS) of the Department of Transportation & Communications (DOTC), in collaboration with the US Coast Guard.

“We were surprised by how well everybody responded to scenarios,” Moyer said after the exercises.

“We’ve travelled to a lot of countries and I can say this is unequivocally the best capacity-building exercise that we’ve seen,” Moyer added.

Moyer also encouraged the participants to continue the training exercises and expand the umbrella port-wide plan.

He recommended the utilization of the APEC Manual of Maritime Security Drills as reference in enabling further inter-operability of the plan in response to issues, threats, and risks not only from a facility and port-wide perspective, but from a regional perspective as well.

SBMA Seaport manager Jerome Martinez said the exercises have proven the effectiveness and proficient inter-operability of Subic Bay’s port-wide security plan, which is in compliance with the International Ships and Port Security (ISPS) code, requiring all international ports to develop and maintain security procedures.

The OTS-DOTC has recently issued anew a certificate of compliance to SBMA for its port security manual, detailing security measures and controls in times of threats and other emergencies that may occur in any of the berths and wharves of the Freeport zone.

“Our lookouts are security threats that are prevalent such as smuggling of illegal goods, human trafficking, pilferage, and theft. Then again, we are also prepared for regional threats such as piracy and terrorism,” Martinez said.

The US Coast Guard participated as a first-time facilitator of the exercises in the Philippines, together with the OTS-DOTC.

Participating in the tabletop port security drills were SBMA’s first responders; namely its Seaport, Law Enforcement, Fire, and Public Health and Safety Departments.

On the other hand, SBF pier operators that joined the drills were Boton Pier operator Seaport Terminal, Inc. (STI); New Container Terminal (NCT) 1 and 2 operator Subic Bay International Container Terminal (SBICT); POL pier operator Coastal Petroleum; SRF operator Global Terminals and Development Inc.; Subic Bay Yacht Club; and Hanjin Heavy Industries Corporation (HHIC) Philippines. (RBB/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTOS:
[1] US Coast Guard Lt. Commander Justin Moyer shares his views on ports security during an exercise attended by various port users and locators, as well as SBMA security personnel and emergency responders to ensure port safety and security in the Subic Bay Freeport.

[2] US Coast Guard Lt. Commander Justin Moyer shows an APEC Manual of Maritime Security Drills as a handy manual during the Ports Security Drills and Exercises at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center. The table-top exercise was attended by various port users and locators, as well as SBMA security personnel and emergency responders in the Subic Bay Freeport.

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