The Bureau of Customs’ (BOC) Port of Subic on Monday (Aug. 3) announced it has pulled out four more overstaying containers carrying agricultural and processed products for condemnation and disposal, bringing the total number of condemned containers to 25 out of the 118 overstaying containers identified for urgent disposition.
The latest pullout forms part of the agency’s continuing decongestion and sanitation efforts following concerns over foul odors and a recent leachate pollution incident in the Subic Bay Freeport. According to the customs officials at the Subic port, the containers held assorted agricultural and processed products that were seized or abandoned in previous years.
‘Due to their prolonged storage, the contents have deteriorated, emitting foul odors and posing potential health and environmental hazards within the Port,’ the BOC said.
The latest development came after the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) identified a recurring foul-smelling pollutant that resurfaced off All Hands Beach Resort as leachate and traced its suspected discharge to a drainage system connected to the Subic Bay International Terminal Corp. (SBITC).
The Coast Guard said the leachate was allegedly coming from refrigerated containers under the custody of the BOC, although it emphasized that the finding remains subject to further verification and validation.
The pollution incident also prompted renewed complaints from All Hands Beach Resort, which has long blamed the overstaying refrigerated containers for persistent foul odors that it said have affected its operations and driven away guests.
The resort earlier filed a lawsuit against the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), alleging that the odor problem had persisted despite repeated complaints. The SBMA has maintained that the overstaying containers are under the custody of the BOC.
‘The continuous pull-out and disposal of these priority containers form part of the Port’s intensified decongestion and sanitation efforts to eliminate health risks, safeguard the welfare of port personnel and stakeholders, and ensure the safe and efficient operations of the Port of Subic,’ BOC said.
Customs officials added that the office will continue the lawful disposition of the remaining 93 priority overstaying containers in coordination with concerned government agencies and accredited waste management service providers. /jpv