Govt agencies, environmental groups to cooperate in addressing e-waste problem in Subic

Government agencies and environmental groups conducted an interagency meeting at the Manila International Container Port (MICP) on 6 July 2026, to discuss matters concerning the e-waste shipments within the Subic Bay Freeport.

According to BOC Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno, the said meeting is a step forward to resolve the issue of the e-waste conundrum that environmental groups say violates the Basel Convention, an international treaty adopted in 1989 to stop wealthy nations from dumping toxic, explosive, and electronic waste in developing countries.

Spearheaded by the BOC, the interagency meeting was attended by Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Office of the Solicitor General (OSG), and other non-government organizations (NGOs) such as EcoWaste Coalition and BAN Toxics.

The meeting focused on identifying appropriate courses of action and coordinating the next steps to address the issue. Participating agencies and organizations agreed to submit their respective position papers to facilitate a comprehensive evaluation of available legal, regulatory, and policy options. Discussions also covered measures to strengthen existing mechanisms and prevent similar incidents in the future.

According to Ban Toxics, a nonprofit organization, they created the Task Force End E-Waste Imports to stop the purported waste dumping by the United States (US) in Subic Bay Freeport.

The task force cited that since March 2025, 234 containers of suspected electronic waste (e-waste) and one container of plastic waste have been monitored to be illegally shipped from the United States to the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

During the interagency meeting, SBMA Deputy Administrator (DA) for Regulatory Amethya Dela Llana assured that the companies who have imported e-waste here have obtained Importation Clearance from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources - Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB).

But since the United States is one of only five United Nations member states that have not ratified the Basel Convention, the Task Force End E-Waste Imports said that companies who import from the said country violates the Basel Convention.

Dela Llana said that the SBMA follows the DENR Administrative Order No. 2013-22 (DAO 2013-22), the official policy regulating the “Revised Procedures and Standards for the Management of Hazardous Wastes” in the Philippines.

Issued by the DENR, it serves as the procedural manual for implementing Title III of Republic Act No. 6969 (Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes Control Act of 1990).

Under Chapter 10 of DAO 2013-22, the order permits the importation of specific “recyclable materials”—such as electronic assemblies, scrap metals, and scrap plastics—but only if they are not contaminated by highly toxic components like lead, cadmium, mercury, or PCBs.

During the meeting, the BOC cited that the BOC Port of Subic is legally bound to comply with the decision and constrained from taking further action beyond what is permitted by law. The BOC added that all actions taken by the BOC Port of Subic have been in accordance with court rulings and existing laws, balancing customs enforcement with respect for the judicial process.

Commissioner Nepomuceno encouraged all agencies to continue carrying out their respective regulatory functions despite the pending legal proceedings. The dialogue among government agencies and advocacy groups would continue until a clear and lawful resolution is reached.

The participating agencies and environmental groups reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining close coordination and ensuring that all actions are consistent with existing laws, regulations, and national policies on environmental protection and responsible waste management.