By Benjamin Cuaresma
SUBIC BAY FREEPORT, Philippines — The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has stopped three container vans carrying suspected electronic waste (e-waste) from the United States from entering the Port of Subic, reinforcing the country’s commitment to international environmental regulations and hazardous waste controls.
The shipment, declared as scrap copper, arrived aboard the MV Tokyo Express on July 22. However, BOC-Port of Subic District Collector Geniefelle Lagmay immediately ordered the cargo placed under “Retain on Board” status after authorities noted that the shipment originated from the United States—a country that is not a party to the Basel Convention, the international treaty governing the cross-border movement of hazardous waste.
The precautionary directive prevented the three containers from being unloaded, ensuring they never entered Philippine customs territory. The vessel departed Subic the following day, July 23, with the cargo still onboard.
“The directive was issued in view of the shipment’s country of origin,” the BOC said, stressing that the agency adopted a precautionary approach consistent with the Philippines’ obligations under the Basel Convention, environmental laws, and customs regulations.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) later confirmed that the Liberia-flagged MV Tokyo Express left Subic Bay and was last monitored sailing toward Nansha, China.
The latest interception comes amid growing concerns raised by environmental watchdogs over the alleged entry of foreign hazardous waste into the country.
Earlier, the Basel Action Network (BAN) and local environmental group BAN Toxics, through the Task Force Against Illegal E-Waste Imports to the Philippines, claimed that at least 234 container vans of suspected electronic waste and one container of plastic waste from the United States entered the Subic Bay Freeport between March 2025 and June 2026.
The groups alleged that the shipments may have violated the Basel Convention because the United States is not a signatory to the treaty and the imports allegedly failed to undergo the mandatory Prior Informed Consent (PIC) process required for hazardous waste shipments.
The controversy prompted the Bureau of Customs to convene an inter-agency review involving the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB), Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Office of the Solicitor General (OSG), and environmental organizations to determine whether existing laws and international obligations had been breached.
For its part, the SBMA defended the presence of e-waste recycling facilities inside the freeport, saying the industry promotes a circular economy through “urban mining,” which recovers valuable metals from discarded electronic equipment and reduces dependence on traditional mining.
The agency also maintained that it strictly prohibits the importation of hazardous and radioactive waste, emphasizing that all incoming recyclable materials undergo inspection, laboratory testing, and post-entry monitoring to ensure compliance with Philippine laws and environmental standards.
Government agencies and environmental groups have agreed to submit position papers as discussions continue on strengthening safeguards against the illegal importation of hazardous waste into the country.
ia/xf
