Firm admits dumping waste within Phl’s EEZ

MANILA, Philippines - A top official of the Malaysian shipping firm Glenn Defense Marine Asia admitted yesterday that the ship, contracted to service US Navy assets, dumped sewage and kitchen wastewater in Subic Bay.

“In this particular case, we released the wastewater beyond our territorial limits. The exact place is 17 miles from the shoreline,” Glenn Defense Marine Asia chairman Mateo Mayuga said during yesterday’s joint hearing of the Senate committees on foreign relations and environment and natural resources. 

Mayuga, however, said the area was “not Philippine territory” but within the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

“For purposes of environmental protection, that is already considered high seas on the matter of disposal wastewater. Wastewater, whether treated or untreated,” Mayuga said.

Sen. Loren Legarda said the US Navy contractor violated government regulations when it dumped toxic wastewater in areas that are clearly within the country’s EEZ.

Legarda, who chairs the Senate committee on foreign relations, said it was clear that the contractor violated government regulations.

Among the violations was the firm’s failure to secure a dumping permit from the Philippine Coast Guard to discharge wastewater in an area that is still within the country’s EEZ, Legarda said.