MEPCOM History

The Marine Environmental Protection Command (MEPCOM) traces its roots from the National Operations Center for Oil Pollution (NOCOP). Established by the virtue of Presidential Decree 602 last December 1974 under the helm of its first director, LT JOSELITO M CASILLAN II PN. The Center acted as the ASEAN point of Contact has provided the institutional and administrative direction to oil spill response operation in the country. With its initial complement of 8 Marine Environmental Protection Office (MEPO) the center has the over all responsibility in the containment, removal and treatment of marine pollution in all bodies of water within the territorial jurisdiction of the Philippines.

In 1983, the NOCOP functions were integrated with the Coast Guard Districts. Thereafter, NOCOP detachments was upgraded and renamed. With the increasing demand to address the growing marine environmental threats coupled with the institutional demands of the international community, the PCG issued General Order Number 151 dated 30 May 1998 which expanded NOCOP into a major unit of the Philippine Coast Guard. This is what we now known as the Marine Environmental Protection Command (MEPCOM).

Immediately after its creation, MEPCOM met its initial “baptism of fire” when it successfully contained major spills brought about by the sinking of M/V Princess of the Orient, M/T Sea Brothers I and M/T Mary Anne under the able leadership of its first Commander, then CAPT REUBEN S LISTA PCG (GSC), the Commandant, PCG

On the 10th day of November 1999 CAPT ELPIDIO B PADAMA PCG (GSC), the former Chief of Staff, took the helm of this prestigious and challenging outfit until today. During his incumbency, CAPT PADAMA spearheaded the containment and recovery operations of M/V Nol Schedar, Coca-Cola, Fortune Tabacco, Litton Mills, Fortune Cement Corp. and Nestle Phils. oil spill incidents.

From then on, the command has evolved into a service focused, dynamic and professional organization, continuously improving its capability and fully sensitive to the public interest particularly in the preservation of our marine resources. Now MEPCOM is composed of (four) 4 Major Units.

• Headquarters Support Group (HSG)
  
• Marine Environmental Protection Force (MEPFOR)
  
• Marine Environmental Resource Management and Research and Development Center and; (MERMRDC)
• National Operations Center for Oil Pollution (NOCOP)
  

The Command has little by little creating a niche in the prevention, control and abatement of marine pollution for the protection of our marine environment.

On year 2005, MEPCOM’s ability was again put into test when NAPOCOR Power Barge 106 ran aground in the vicinity of Semirara Island Antique that spills more or less million liters of bunker fuel in the beaches of Semirara.

Halfway through the recovery operation, another major oil spill sweep off the MEPCOM’s competence, when an oil tanker M/T Solar I capsized in the pristine waters of  Guimaras Island, Iloilo City where a total of about 2 million liters of bunker fuel was spilt in the sea.

Learning from those incidents, MEPCOM take the initiative to develop its Emergency Preparedness and Response Capability Development Plan then later upgrade it into a Master Development Plan that aims to equip the Command with state of the art MARPOL Equipment that meets the current demand of the Maritime Industry. Marine Environmental Protection Command also initiated the Revision of the National Oil Spill Contingency Plan. The Plan seeks to provide a coordinated response mechanism utilizing the combined resources of both the government and the private sector to ensure a timely measured & effective response to oil spill incidents.

Today, as MEPCOM grows with its mission, its main thrust to review and improve its current laws, rules and regulations in prevention of marine pollution.