The Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary (PCGA) 618th Squadron in Negros Occidental has been ordered to prepare for the upcoming International Maritime Pollution Exercises 2024 (2024 MARPOLEX) scheduled in Bacolod City in June.
The event is expected to be biggest international maritime pollution exercise that will be the hosted by Bacolod, Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary National Director, Vice Admiral Jorge Lim, said in a press release.
Among the participants in the one-week exercises will be coast guard members from Australia, Vietnam, Thailand, and Singapore, Lim said.
Lim said the United States Coast Guard Indo-Pacific Command will also be in Bacolod City to observe the exercises.
The 2023 MARPOLEX held in General Santos City last year and was led by the Philippine Coast Guard District Southern Mindanao.
During last year’s event, participants simulated an oil spill scenario to test and evaluate the response capability of oil spill responders, emphasizing the operational coordination and communication protocols, the press release said.
Meanwhile, the officers of the 618th PCGA Squadron also received the Presidential Unit and PCGA Unit Citation Awards on Thursday, February 29.
The PCGA Unit Citation is exclusively awarded by the National Auxiliary Director to a PCGA unit that has distinguished itself outstandingly in the rendition of its duty, the press release said.
The Presidential Unit Citation was awarded by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to all PCGA units nationwide for their exceptionally, meritorious conduct and extraordinary accomplishments in support of the conduct of maritime security operations, humanitarian assistance activities, and disaster relief and recovery efforts, it added.*