SBMA holds annual Arbor Day in Subic Bay Freeport

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Ecology Center led the celebration of the Subic Bay Arbor Day 2026 at this premier Freeport, which kicked off on June 22.  

Ecology Center Officer-In-Charge (OIC) Rossell L. Abuyo said that the annual Subic Bay Arbor Day, aiming to celebrate the forests, showcase local crafts and bounty, and strengthen the Subic Freeport community’s commitment to environmental sustainability, will end on July 10, 2026, featuring various environmental conservation efforts, including community lectures, exhibits, and tree-planting drives.

Themed “Our Forest, Our Craft, Our Bounty,” the celebration also includes a series of activities, such as Tree-Via Hunt: a three-week digital flash mob scavenger hunt in the Central Business District.

On June 23, around 592 individuals, consisting of SBMA employees, as well as employees from 106 SBFZ investors and companies, planted 834 saplings of various fruit-bearing trees like jackfruit, cashew, soursop, and lipote at the Mulawin Bayakan Reforestation Site of the Pastolan Village, an ancestral Aeta indigenous community in the SBFZ.

The tree-planting activity, called “Magtanum Kitamo: Subic Bay’s Arbor Day and Forest Bounty Showcase,” was attended by companies such as Subic Bay International Terminal Corporation, Philippine Coastal Storage & Pipeline Corporation, Subic Enerzone, and MSK Group Work Incorporated.

During her welcome remarks before the tree-planting activity, Abuyo said, “Isipin natin na ang punong ating itatanim ay isang pag-asa para sa susunod na henerasyon.”

Other activities are the June 2026 Cleanup Club, an SBFZ-wide cleanup, as well as the Tiawon Talks: A Forest Products Webinar via Google Meet.

Meanwhile, SBMA OIC-Senior Deputy Administrator for Regulatory Group and Deputy Administrator for Public Health, Amethya P. Dela Llana said, “Naging bahagi ako ng pagpapayaman ng watershed!” adding that those who participated in the Arbor Day celebration should be proud of being a part of the environmental protection in Subic Bay Freeport.

Philippine Arbor Day is officially observed nationwide on June 25, according to Republic Act 10176 (Arbor Day Act), which emphasizes the need for citizens to plant trees. Communities, LGUs, and government agencies—such as the DENR—are rolling out massive tree-growing and nurturing initiatives to strengthen climate action. (MPD-SBMA) 

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SBMA makes it to Green Destinations 2025 Top 100 stories

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority’s (SBMA) entry, the Recyclables Collection Program, was hailed as one of the 2025 Top 100 Stories on the global recognition list from the Netherlands-based organization Green Destinations.

According to SBMA Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose L. Aliño, the agency was recognized in the “Good Practice Stories” in sustainable tourism from around the world for the Recyclables Collection Program.

The winning story, “Recyclables Collection Program: SBMA’s Strategy to Implement Circular Economy,” depicts how the agency implements its circular economy strategy primarily through its flagship program, the Recyclables Collection Event (RCE), which is held biannually. It involves collaboration among stakeholders to manage waste, raise funds for charity, and achieve carbon-neutrality goals. 

“This is the first international award of the SBMA for its sustainability efforts. The RCE is part of our bid to make the Subic Bay Freeport Zone the first carbon-neutral economic zone in the Philippines,” he added.

The Green Destinations Top 100 Stories award was presented during the Sustainable Destinations Forum 2025 on October 28-29 at Expo City Dubai, where the ceremony celebrating stories from around the globe was held. 

OIC-Senior Deputy Administrator for Regulatory Group Amethya Dela Llana cited that the primary goal of the Recyclables Program is to achieve a 30 percent reduction in emissions by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2040. The initiative also aims to make Subic Bay Freeport into the first Green Port City in the country.

Dela Llana said that the RCE is a multi-faceted approach that transforms waste management from a disposal problem into an integrated system that creates resources, fosters community involvement, and supports social causes, embodying the principles of a circular economy.

SBMA Ecology Center OIC Rossell L. Abuyo added, “The RCE is an event where SBMA departments, Subic Freeport companies, and residents donate or sell segregated common recyclables such as paper, plastics, metals, and hazardous wastes such as used oil, e-waste, busted bulbs, and expired medicines.” 

She added that proceeds from the sales of these materials are often donated to local charitable institutions, namely the Missionaries of Charity house, which is a shelter for abandoned seniors, and Bantay Bata 163. There were also instances when the funds were used to provide grocery packs for outsourced utility workers. 

The Green Destinations 2025 Top 100 Stories list highlights sustainable tourism initiatives from around the world, with winning stories announced at the Green Destinations Story Awards ceremony in March 2025. 

Del Carmen of Siargao Islands, Philippines also won an award for its transformation from mangrove cutting to a Ramsar site, or a wetland acclaimed as being of "international importance," and the Cayo District, Belize, for its sustainable tourism projects. 

Other notable award categories were Destination Management, Nature and Scenery, Environment and Climate, Culture and Tradition, Thriving Communities, and Business and Marketing. (MPD-SBMA) 

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SBMA bags “Best Ecological Solid Waste Management Practices” award

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) bagged the Best Ecological Solid Waste Management Practices award during the Environmental Summit 2025 held at Widus Hotel, Clark, Pampanga on August 29, 2025.

With the theme “Ending Global Plastic Pollution,” the summit organized by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) Central Luzon aims to honor defenders of environmental protection and sustainable solutions.

According to SBMA Ecology Center Officer-in-Charge Rossell Abuyo, the said award recognizes the commitment and dedication of the department’s “outstanding solid waste enforcement and implementation in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.”

She said that one of the programs that has left a mark on the SBMA’s credibility as the Best Ecological Solid Waste Management Practices is the Recyclables Collection Event (RCE), which is held semi-annually. 

She added that various hazardous wastes that have been collected during the week-long 16^th RCE range from used oil, waste from electronics and electrical equipment, used lead acid batteries (ULAB), oily water, used cooking oil, oil-contaminated materials, busted fluorescent bulbs (BFLs), busted LED bulbs, expired medicines, sharps, and contaminated containers. 

Some of the recyclables collected during the event included used papers, cartons, PET bottles, other plastic materials, used slippers, tin cans, aluminum, copper, and other metals.

The recyclables collected reached 10,669.74 kilograms, with materials collected by 142 donors, including SBMA Departments, SBF companies, and residents. 

The agency also holds Recycling Day in Subic Bay Freeport Housing Areas on Saturdays to collect all recyclables. The collection activity started last July 6, 2024, targeting SBF residents from Binictican, Kalayaan, and Cubi areas. 

“Efficient management of our solid waste will also serve as our adaptation strategy to help combat climate change. Championing waste management is one of the pillars to achieve our goal for a carbon-neutral Subic Bay Freeport,” Abuyo said. (MPD-SBMA) 

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Gov’t agencies, recycling company partner to implement Cash Cycled Project in Zambales schools

Government agencies partner with a recycling company to implement the Cash Cycled Project in public elementary and secondary schools in Zambales. 

A Memorandum of Agreement for the project was signed between the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Zambales, the Department of Education (DepEd) Schools Division of Zambales, and Foochi Trading and Resources Inc. at the SBMA Corporate Boardroom on August 6, 2025. 

The Cash Cycled Project aims to encourage the active participation of schools and local communities in practicing plastic waste recycling and sustainability by trading collected plastic bottles with the recycling partner. 

“This project marks a significant milestone in environmental and youth empowerment initiatives as it aims to foster collaboration between the project proponents and the academic communities in building sustainable environmental practices,” SBMA OIC Senior Deputy Administrator for Regulatory, Amethya Dela Llana-Koval, said. 

DTI Provincial Director Enrique Tacbad explained that the plastic bottles collected by government-run schools in Zambales will be sold to Foo Chi Trading and Resources Inc. for income generation to support school activities or environmental initiatives. 

Under the Cash Cycled Project, the income generated from the sale of plastic bottles will be deposited into a designated school fund account, which will be used solely for environmental projects, supplies, or student development programs, in accordance with DepEd’s financial policies and auditing rules and regulations. 

A joint monitoring team, composed of representatives from each Party, shall meet at least once every semester, or as needed, to evaluate project implementation, address any issues, and recommend improvements. (MPD-SBMA) 

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SBMA, DTI inaugurate bamboo nursery in Subic Freeport

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Zambales jointly inaugurated a tree and bamboo nursery at the El Kabayo here on June 24, 2025.

SBMA Ecology Center OIC Rossell L. Abuyo said that the Bamboo Nursery is in partnership with DTI Zambales and other private stakeholders to provide an area where bamboo saplings can be propagated and grown inside the Freeport.

She added that the opening of the El Kabayo Tree and Bamboo Nursery is just the first step, and will be followed by a “Bambusetum” in the same area.

“A bambusetum is a specialized garden or collection dedicated to the cultivation and study of various bamboo species. It serves as a gene bank for bamboo conservation, allowing for the observation of different growth habits and characteristics of these plants, which are often more distinct than their floral characteristics,” she explained.

She added that bambusetums are valuable for scientific, educational, and aesthetic purposes.

DTI Director Enrique Tacbad mentioned that, besides the environmental benefits of bamboo, these plants can also serve as a good source of livelihood for the community. He pointed out that various products, as well as bamboo propagules, can be made from bamboo.

He added that soon the area would become a place to process and manufacture bamboo fibers and other products that can be sold to the market.

“With regards to these anticipated needs, there is a need for a sustainable supply of raw materials; thus, a bambusetum or bambudal (in Spanish) can supply the said materials needed at any time,” he said.

The bambusetum is a collection of living bamboos, which may consist of native or exotic, raised and cultivated for educational, research, and development, or aesthetic purposes, or any combination thereof.

“Initially, for SBMA's bambusetum, we are preparing for at least 15-20 species of bamboo,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Banco Kalikasan Environmental Movement, Inc. donated 200 iron bamboo propagules to the El Kabayo Tree and Bamboo Nursery during the opening ceremony. Banco Kalikasan President Emar Alcantara and Project Coordinator Mary Grace Alcantara were present to deliver the propagules to the Subic Bay Freeport.

Iron bamboo, scientifically known as Guadua Angustifolia, is a type of bamboo known for its exceptional strength and is considered a premier material for construction and engineered bamboo production. It is native to South America and has been successfully introduced to the Philippines, where it is a priority species for propagation. (MPD-SBMA) 

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SBMA celebrates week-long Subic Bay Arbor Day 2025

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) kicked off its week-long celebration of Subic Bay Arbor Day 2025 with the opening ceremony held at the Harbor Point Ayala Mall Promenade on Monday, June 23.

Dubbed “Kanian Tiawan, Kanian Biag, Kanian Biay,” in Ayta Ambala dialect, or “Our Forest, Our Home, Our Life” in English, the week-long celebration started on June 23 and will end on June 27.

SBMA Chief-of-Staff Atty. Von F. Rodriguez, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Zambales Provincial Director Enrique D. Tacbad, joined SBMA Ecology Center OIC Rossell L. Abuyo during the ribbon-cutting ceremony to formally open the series of events.

The Subic Bay Arbor Day features an expo at the Harbor Point Ayala Mall from June 23 to 27. Additionally, a Bamboo Nursery will be launched at the El Kabayo forest area on June 24, and Tiawon Talks will host online lectures on June 26.

Other events include the Carbon Mo Capture Mo Photography Contest on June 27, and the Magtanum Kitamo Arbor Day tree planting activity at the Mulawin-Bayakan Reforestation Site on June 27.

Speaking on behalf of SBMA Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose L. Aliño, Chief of Staff Rodriguez said that the agency is taking vital steps to achieve a carbon-neutral zone here in Subic Bay Freeport. He added that the agency is holding the annual event diligently to ensure that the environment here is well taken care of.

Subic Bay Freeport boasts a well-preserved natural environment, offering a scenic backdrop for businesses and a place where nature and productivity intersect. The area is naturally sheltered from typhoons due to its mountain ranges and deep harbor.

The SBMA is actively engaged in environmental management, including waste management and conservation efforts. (MPD-SBMA) 

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SBMA holds week-long 16th Recyclables Collection Event in celebration of Earth Day 2025

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) is holding the 16th Recyclables Collection Event (RCE) from April 21 to 25, 2025, in celebration of this year's Earth Day.

 

This year’s theme, “Our Power, Our Planet,” is highlighted by the Communication Education and Public Awareness (CEPA) caravan, which aims to empower stakeholders.

 The caravan happens on April 22 and 24 at the Function Hall B of the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center (SBECC), and will also feature the Health and Environment discussion led by PCOM-Olongapo virtually via Google Meet. 

 

“As for the main event, the 16th Recyclables Collection Event, will be held at the Mini Golf Course area of the Subic Bay Freeport, where stakeholders can bring hazardous waste materials and recyclable materials to ensure their proper disposal,” SBMA Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose L. Aliño said.

 

Also in line with the 16^th RCE, sustainable products and technology exhibit, including the UBC Awareness and Collection Program led by GNS/ Tetra Pak Philippines, Bamboonihan and Green Foot Carbon Calculator by Banco Kalikasan, Wastewater/ Grease waste management by Soliman EcoWaste Management Corp., and PBC Waste Management by Innogy Solutions Inc., happens at the Promenade A of the Harbor Point Ayala Mall from April 21-23. 

 

The 16^th RCE will have the Refill Revolution for a Cause at the Harbor Point Ayala Mall on April 21 and 23, and at the Ecology Center on April 24 and 25. 

 

“Our goal here is to reduce plastic pollution by reducing waste from single-use plastics. The proceeds from the donated recyclable materials collected will be doled out to the employees of Omniworx, the company tasked to clean and maintain SBMA buildings all over the Subic Bay Freeport,” Aliño said.

 

He reiterated that these employees are “our partners in the segregation of wastes at source. They ensure that recyclables are properly segregated and turned over during the bi-annual RCE for proper disposal through our waste haulers.” 

 

Other activities include the Earth Day 2025 Community Cleanup, which will be held all over the Subic Bay Freeport Zone, and the Trash for Rice, a social development program of the Subic Bay Freeport Electronics Recycling Association.

 

Earth Day 2025 is the Subic Bay Freeport Zone’s step towards its goal in the Race to Carbon Neutrality, making this premier Freeport into a carbon-neutral zone in the future,” Aliño said. (MPD-SBMA)

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SBMA recognized for outstanding upcycling efforts in CL

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) was recently recognized for its best efforts to upcycle wastes from among other contenders in Central Luzon.

Themed “Celebrating the Excellence and Partnership of Environmental Champions,” the Environmental Summit 2024 was held on June 28 at the Widus Hotel, Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga to give recognition to local government units (LGUs), industries and stakeholders with best practices in waste management.

OIC-Senior Deputy Administrator for Regulatory Group and SBMA Ecology Center manager Amethya Dela Llana-Koval personally received the agency’s award for its “Outstanding Practice in Upcycling Operation” from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) Central Luzon.

Dela Llana-Koval acknowledged the various departments and offices of the SBMA and its stakeholders for its all-out support that largely contributed to the success of Ecology Center’s events and activities.

“We are very grateful to the EMB for recognizing our efforts in solid waste management, especially in recycling and upcycling. It is with pride and honor that the Ecology Center shares this award to the entire agency. It is only through the support of other SBMA departments and offices and our stakeholders that we are able to achieve this,” she said.

The Environmental Summit was attended by representatives of various agencies and LGUs in Central Luzon--EMB regional director, DENR assistant regional executive director, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) regional director, Provincial Environmental Management Unit (PEMU), Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO), Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO) and awardees from Region 3, governors, mayors, barangay captains, SBMA, Clark Development Corporation (CDC) and industries, to name a few.

The accolade is attributed to the Ecology Center’s continuous conduct of Recyclable Collection Events, Scrap to Craft contest in collaboration with schools within the SBF, Green Runway Fashion competition, and other related environmental activities, to reduce, recycle and upcycle wastes, which are regularly witnessed by EMB R3 personnel from the Waste Management Division.

Other awards which gave cognizance to other entities for their efforts to promote environmental protection and waste management were, “Most compliant in Ecological Solid Waste Management Implementation,” “Best Materials Recovery Facility,” “Best Composting Innovation,” “Outstanding Support in Ecological Solid Waste Management Implementation,”  “Industry Partners in Environmental Protection, Enhancement and Restoration,” to name a few.

Meanwhile, Dela Llana-Koval assured that the Ecology Center, together with the entire agency, will always do their best and further innovate to address solid waste management concerns.

The Environmental Summit is the culminating event for the Environment Month, which is conducted annually by the Environmental Management Bureau-Region 3. (MPD-SBMA)

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Subic stakeholders, employees join Biay Dagat 2022 coastal cleanup

Employees of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority and close to 2,000 stakeholders of this premier freeport joined the coastal clean-up on Friday as a culminating activity of Biay Dagat 2022.

According to SBMA Chairman and Administrator Rolen C. Paulino, the SBMA Coastal Clean Up: Biay Dagat coastal clean-up is part of the agency’s effort to make Subic Bay Freeport attractive to tourists, and investors who intend to make it happen in the Philippines by infusing capital funds in Subic.

The participants conducted clean-up drives at the Waterfront Beach, Lighthouse Resort, Malawaan Beach, Triboa Bay Mangrove Park, Tago Beach, Nabasan Beach, Subic Bay Yacht Club (SBYC) Mangrove Area, Binictican Mangrove, and San Bernardino Road jetty area.

He added that some of the participants also conducted an off-shore cleanup, citing that these participants are called SCOOPsurero who were detailed at the  river mouths of the Subic Bay Freeport found in Matain, Kalaklan, and other nearby areas.

“The coastal clean-up is the culminating event of the Biay Dagat. We also conducted online lectures such as the importance and conservation of mangroves and corals, and the role of the public in marine conservation and preservation earlier this week, and a Pawikan online lecture was also conducted on Thursday,” he said.

An infomercial video making contest that started from August 26 and ended on September 19 was also an initiative of the SBMA to give more meaning to this year's ICC. Paulino said that contestants must adhere to the theme “Anong SilBay Mo?” that should focus on the importance of protecting marine biodiversity and the public’s role in protecting Subic Bay’s marine ecosystem.

The agency also took part in the International Coastal Cleanup 2022 on Saturday at the Lighthouse Marina Resort where more than 200 participants from various stakeholders here joined the coastal clean-up.

Lighthouse management, in collaboration with the Rotary Club of Cubao West also launched a recycling machine that converts collected plastic trash into more durable everyday items such as chairs, trash bins, planting pots, and lumber. (MPD-SBMA)

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Coral garden nursery, pawikan preservation site to rise in Subic Bay Freeport

 

A coral garden nursery and pawikan preservation site will soon rise in this premier Freeport.

This is in an effort to preserve the nesting site of marine turtles and launch a coral garden nursery in the waters of Subic Bay, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and other stakeholders inside this premier Freeport signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) at the All Hands Beach Resort on Friday.

According to SBMA Chairman and Administrator Rolen C. Paulino, the sea turtle nest preservation and coral garden nursery construction is in partnership with DENR’s Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO), PNP Regional Maritime Unit 3, Brighterday Subic Ltd. Inc., and the Sangkalikasan Producer Cooperative.

“The SBMA aims to restore balance in our ecosystem, which will also be beneficial to our tourism industry. We want to preserve the wildlife inside the Subic Bay Freeport while maintaining the area as the number one tourist destination in Central Luzon,” he said.

He said that All Hands Beach Resort is one of the tourist destinations in Subic Freeport that has maintained a good balance between tourism and eco-conservation. The top agency official said that his first mandate was to clean the Boardwalk Area.

“It is not just the responsibility of the agency to clean and preserve the ecosystem of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone. This should also be the responsibility of the various stakeholders here,” he cited.

PENRO Zambales Director Marife L. Castillo said that the month of May is the Month of the Ocean and what better way to celebrate the month than to establish a coral garden nursery. The garden is a coral augmentation project that aims to proliferate corals within an area.

She said that the agency will provide assistance in monitoring and managing marine turtle hatcheries, solicit active participation of stakeholders in the project, rehabilitate degraded marine turtle habitats by enhancing recovery of mangroves and coral reefs, and installation of a wildlife enforcement officer.

Brighterday Subic Ltd. Inc., the company that owns and operates the All Hands Beach Resort  has collaborated with the SBMA and the DENR in the implementation of the marine turtle nesting site project inside its resort.

Brighterday Chairman Mark Dayrit said that the resort has already released around 8,000 sea turtle hatchlings since it opened in 2012. Under the MOA, the company will ensure the vigilant monitoring of pawikan sightings and coral augmentations.

Dayrit added that the company will also provide logistical support to the SBMA Harbor Patrol in the conduct of maintenance and protection activities.

Meanwhile, Sangkalikasan Producer Cooperative is set to conduct baseline assessment and monthly monitoring of reef buds. The cooperative will spearhead the actual conduct of monitoring, maintenance and protection of the site of the coral nursery garden.

On the other hand, Regional Maritime Unit 3 chief Police Col. Fernando L. Cunanan Jr. said that aside from their usual mandate as police officers, part of their duty is to protect the environment.

He said that his unit has arrested thousands for illegal poaching, and 30 people involved in the illegal trade of wildlife. The official said they cannot do this without the help of the community, citing that to protect the community needs the involvement of each and every one.

The signing ceremony included the coastal cleanup drive wherein “Scubasureros” pick up trash in the waters near All Hands Beach Resort. (MPD-SBMA)

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Coca-Cola turns over PET bottle bins, benches to SBMA

Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines Inc. (CCBPI) turned over bottle collection bins and benches to the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) as part of the company’s “World Without Waste” (WWW) program here in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone (SBFZ).

According to CCBPI Stakeholder Relations Associate Manager Atty. Dianne Patawaran, the bottle collection bins are situated in various areas of this premier Freeport such as the Boardwalk Area, Mini Golf area, Remy Field, and the Malawaan Park.

She added that the benches donated are made from recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles collected from the WWW program, citing that these benches will also be located in the aforementioned areas within the SBFZ.

The official said that the SBMA and their company placed these collection bins in frequented areas of tourists so they can drop off their PET bottles of any brand there.

Corporate and Regulatory Affairs director Atty. Marc Cox said that the  WWW is a program launched by the company a few years ago.

“Our ambition is to collect and recycle the equivalent can or pet bottle we put out in the market. In the Philippines, we are in a unique position since Coca-Cola invested in a recycling facility called PET Value Philippines Corp.,” he added.

The company official cited that some of the recycled bottles from the recycling facility will become available locally for use by Coca-Cola. He added that they  have already started using recycled PET bottles in their Viva mineral water in eco bottles.

Both the SBMA and the CCBPI signed the agreement on the World Without Waste program, helping the beverage company in collecting as many PET bottles from these collection bins and upcycling them into benches, school chairs, and even trash bins.

SBMA Ecology Manager Amethya Dela Llana and CCBPI Stakeholder Relations, Corporate and Regulatory Affairs Director Atty. Mark Anthony Cox signed the agreement at the Boardwalk area, further solidifying the partnership of the two in making the SBFZ cleaner and greener.

Dela Llana lauded the efforts of CCBPI, citing that PET bottles have been one of the most visible trash seen in the SBFZ. She cited that the agreement would not only help minimize the number of PET bottles littered here, but would also be used in upcycling the material into useful furniture.

Cox said that the company aims to help collect and recycle a bottle or can for every one we sell by 2030.

“That’s our vision for World Without Waste, an ambitious environmental program we launched in 2018. The world has a packaging problem. As the world’s biggest beverage company, we have a responsibility to help solve it,” he said.

He added that the company aims to make their packaging 100 percent recyclable by 2025, and use 50 percent recycled material in our bottles and cans by 2030.

“As we work toward a world without waste, we aim to collect and recycle a bottle or can — regardless of where it comes from — for every one we sell by 2030,” he said. (MPD-SBMA) 

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SBMA to promote ‘junk art’ in 10th recyclable collection event

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) will encourage the youth in the Subic Bay community to turn waste products into junk art, a contemporary art subgenre that uses found objects as art materials, in the upcoming 10th Recyclables Collection Event (RCE).

SBMA Ecology Center manager Amethya dela Llana said the upcycling project, aptly named “From Scrap to Craft”, will use wastes collected from coastal and river clean-up other recycling activities and convert them into junk art.

“Thrash are just resources out of place. And with this project, we can show the community that certain materials that we normally throw away could be turned into art pieces that would not just be Instagram-worthy but could even be sold for extra income,” Dela Llana said.

She said the SBMA will also provide cash prizes for the best “From Scrap to Craft” entries to encourage more participants and introduce the idea that upcycling could be profitable and worth their time.

The junk art contest is just one part of the 10^th RCE, which is scheduled on November 15 to 19. With the theme “REFUSE. REDUCE. REUSE. RECYCLE. REPURPOSE”, the event will feature various activities that promote waste reduction and segregation, teach proper collection and disposal of recyclables and hazardous wastes, and increase awareness in waste management.

Dela Llana said the SBMA has been organizing recyclables collection as a bi-annual event in the Subic Bay Freeport with the cooperation of business locators, residents, government agencies and private groups.

Another component of the upcoming RCE is the “Refill Revolution for a Cause”, which will be a bazaar sale of cleaning products. Stakeholders can buy detergent, laundry soap, fabric conditioner, dishwashing liquid, and hand soap by the bulk, but they need to bring their own containers, Dela Lllana added.

Accredited haulers and hazardous waste handlers will also collect PET bottles, cartons, scrap metals, newspapers, and aluminum cans; plastic packaging from online and retail stores; glass bottles; wastes from electronics and electrical equipment; biomedical wastes; used oils and oil-contaminated materials; used lead acid batteries; busted fluorescent/lamp bulbs; empty containers; inks and dyes; paint sludge; as well as expired make-up.

The RCE will also be a venue for an information, education and communication campaign on waste management to be conducted by the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and ABS-CBN’s Bantay Kalikasan.

Meanwhile, partner groups Subic Bay Freeport Chamber of Commerce and RP Energy, Inc. will also use the event as a springboard for assistance to local schools and Sangguniang Kabataan units in the neighboring communities of Olongapo City, Zambales and Bataan.

Dela Llana said the various activities under RCE are crucial interventions to protect the local environment and help promote health and wellness among Subic stakeholders.

The Philippines ranked third in 2015 among the highest sources of plastic pollution in global waters, after China and Indonesia, DENR records show. It is estimated that 31.9 million metric tons of plastic pollution are produced around the world each year, and about a quarter of that volume ends up in bodies of water. (MPD-SBMA) 

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Volunteers clear Subic beaches of plastic wastes, storm debris

 

More than 200 volunteers from locator companies, community groups and departments of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) fanned out to eight points along the shoreline here on Friday to collect mostly plastic wastes and other debris that were washed ashore after the recent heavy rains.

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma said the coastal cleanup is an annual event here among stakeholders in line with the International Coastal Cleanup Day celebration, but was cancelled last year because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“This time we allowed it but on condition that the activities be undertaken with strict observance of health and safety protocols,” Eisma stressed.

“Despite the pandemic, there is still a need to protect the environment because a healthy environment is proven to be a big factor to the healing process, and we need that now more than ever,” she added.

The SBMA Ecology Center, which organized the cleanup, assigned volunteers into 10-man teams deployed at onshore cleanup points along Waterfront Beach, San Bernardino Road, Triboa Bay Boardwalk, Tago Beach, and Nabasan Beach. Others were dispersed to river deltas, while some underwater teams also dived on the bay to take out trash.

Ecology Center manager Amethya dela Llana said the trash collected by the various teams were sorted out and recorded to further study the extent of pollution along the coast and on Subic Bay.

Most of the trash washed ashore were plastic bottles, Styrofoam cups and food packets, but volunteers said they also collected a large amount of disposable face masks along with rubber slippers.

The coastal cleanup on Friday also served to conclude the weeklong celebration of this year’s Biay Dagat, a mini-festival launched in 2019 to promote environmental protection and engage stakeholder support in ecological action.

Biay Dagay 2021 was launched virtually, with the online ceremony attended by SBMA employees, business locators, environmental advocates, and other Subic stakeholder groups.

The launch was followed by a series of online lectures like “Man and Ocean: Importance of taking care of our Seas and Ocean,” “SBMA Policies in Protecting Marine Areas,” and “Waste Away: Proper Waste Management, Segregation and Disposal.”

Cenevix Mañago of the SBMA Ecology Center’s organizing team described the coastal cleanup as “hugely successful” despite the constraints of Covid-19 pandemic. (MPD-SBMA)

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SBMA retains ISO seal for environment management

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has maintained its status as a duly-certified organization adhering to international standards in environmental management after hurdling an audit of operational systems early this month.

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma said the SBMA retained its ISO 14001:2015 EMS certification after fulfilling all the environmental management system actions recommended by DQS Certification Phils., a third party certifying body.

“We have envisioned Subic Bay to be a leading eco-urban free port that is why we have consistently raised the bar in managing the environment, which is the core asset of Subic,” Eisma pointed out.

She said that an effective EMS is necessary to achieve enhanced environmental performance, meet compliance obligations, and fulfill environmental objectives.

“Getting more investments, and thus more job opportunities for the community, is always anchored on the fact that Subic is attractive as a location both for business and leisure. This is why an effective EMS is a necessary management tool for the SBMA,” Eisma added.

The ISO 14001:2015, which is the international standard for an effective environmental management system (EMS), specifies the requirements that an organization can use to enhance its environmental performance and manage its environmental responsibilities in a systematic manner to attain sustainability.

SBMA Ecology Center manager Amethya dela Llana, who is also officer in charge of the SBMA Regulatory Group, said the ISO 14001:2015 is tied up with other management systems standards, such as ISO 9001:2015 or the Quality Management System, which the SBMA received in October 2018.

She said that in compliance with government health protocols to prevent the spread of Covid-19, DQS conducted the surveillance audit remotely using on-line meet applications.

Dela Llana also noted that during the first surveillance audit in 2019, SBMA received two yellow ratings or commendable actions that exceeded requirements for compliance. In the second surveillance, SBMA got four yellow ratings.

She attributed one of the yellow ratings to the support of the top management for allocating budget and resources for the construction of the SBMA Hazardous Waste Facility.

She added that the SBMA management has fully supported efforts by the agency’s Total Quality Management (TQM) and Environment Management System- Technical Working Group (EMS-TWG) to achieve the ISO certification.

Aside from establishing EMS practices in all its offices, the SBMA has also spearheaded several environment-promotion programs like the semi-annual Recyclables Collecting Event wherein companies or individuals sell or donate recyclable items.

Other SBMA-initiated environment projects include the annual SBMA Arbor Day tree-planting, banning of single-use plastics and Styrofoam in work places, and anti-smoking campaign. (MPD-SBMA)

 PHOTO: 

Waste collection and recycling are part of the established environment management system in the Subic Bay Freeport

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