The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC)-Port of Subic formalized a partnership to regulate the admission of recyclable non-hazardous materials into the Freeport through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed on October 2, 2025.
SBMA Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose L. Aliño and BOC-Port of Subic District Collector Noel C. Estanislao led the signing held at the SBMA Corporate Boardroom.
𝑆𝐵𝑀𝐴 𝐶ℎ𝑎𝑖𝑟𝑚𝑎𝑛 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐴𝑑𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑜𝑟 𝐸𝑑𝑢𝑎𝑟𝑑𝑜 𝐽𝑜𝑠𝑒 𝐿. 𝐴𝑙𝑖𝑛̃𝑜 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐵𝑂𝐶-𝑃𝑜𝑟𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑆𝑢𝑏𝑖𝑐 𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑡 𝐶𝑜𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟 𝑁𝑜𝑒𝑙 𝐸𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑖𝑠𝑙𝑎𝑜 𝑠𝑖𝑔𝑛 𝑎 𝑀𝑒𝑚𝑜𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑢𝑚 𝑜𝑓 𝑈𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 (𝑀𝑂𝑈), 𝑤ℎ𝑖𝑐ℎ 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑟𝑒𝑔𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑎𝑑𝑚𝑖𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑦𝑐𝑙𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝑛𝑜𝑛-ℎ𝑎𝑧𝑎𝑟𝑑𝑜𝑢𝑠 𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑙𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑏𝑜𝑜𝑠𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑦𝑐𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟
“This agreement will not only ensure proper regulation of recyclable non-hazardous materials, but also enhance our shared efforts to safeguard our borders, protect the environment, and support legitimate industries within the Freeport,” Estanislao said.
Under the MOU, SBMA’s proposed guidelines on the admission of non-hazardous recyclables will be enforced in line with Freeport policies. The agreement also calls for closer coordination between SBMA and BOC in monitoring recycling operations, exchanging industry information, and providing training for agency personnel and registered recyclers. Periodic policy reviews will likewise be conducted to address operational gaps and adapt to evolving needs.
Aliño welcomed the partnership, stressing that collaboration between government agencies and the private sector is key to attracting more businesses while protecting the environment.
Recyclable non-hazardous materials include paper, cardboard, metal cans, glass containers, and certain plastics such as PET bottles, which can be safely processed if properly sorted and cleaned.
Senior Deputy Administrator for Regulatory Amethya Dela Llana noted that Subic currently hosts 12 recycling firms, with four more companies planning to establish operations. She added that SBMA regularly organizes Recyclables Collection Events (RCEs) and weekly recycling drives, with proceeds benefiting charities like the ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation.
Prior to the signing, a public hearing at the Subic Bay Yacht Club presented stakeholders with the proposed guidelines, implementing procedures, liquidation reports, and penalties framework for the admission of non-hazardous materials.
