(South Sulawesi, 25 May 2022) – Embassy officials from Jakarta attended this year’s Marine Pollution Exercise in Makassar upon the invitation of the Directorate General of Sea Transportation and met the participating contingent from the Philippine Coast Guard led by Coast Guard Vice Admiral Rolando Lizor N. Punzalan, Jr.

Some 300 personnel of the Philippine Coast Guard are in South Sulawesi to participate in MARPOLEX 2022. Taking part in the action this week are the PCG’s latest assets which include the multi-role response vessel BRP Teresa Magbanua (MRRV-9701), the offshore patrol vessel BRP Gabriela Silang (OPV-8301), the BRP Cape Engaño (MRRV-4411), and the BRP Malapascua (MRRV-4403).

The MARPOLEX is an oil spill response integrated exercise conducted every two years by the Philippines, Indonesia and Japan in line with the provisions of the Sulu Sulawesi Oil Spill Network Plan 1981. It aims to train and enhance cooperation and inter-operability capacities as well as ensure participating countries’ preparedness in firefighting, rescue, and oil spill recovery operations.

Consul General Bryan Lao and Second Secretary Jonathan Abe of the Philippine Embassy in Jakarta together with Consul General Angelica Escalona of the Philippine Consulate General in Manado attended the opening ceremony of MARPOLEX 2022 held at the official residence of the governor of South Sulawesi on 24 May 2022. (XXX)