Coast Guard Investigates Foul-Smelling Substance Reappearing Off Subic Beach

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has launched an investigation into the foul-smelling floating substance which resurfaced off a beach resort here on Friday, July 24, days after the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) collected water samples from the area to determine its source. According to Coast Guard Commander Euphraim Jayson Diciano, their personnel have been inspecting the All Hands Beach Resort after the unidentified gelatinous material was reported drifting near the shoreline, while emitting the same sour, foul odor observed during the initial incident on Sunday (July 19). “One of the core functions of the PCG is marine environmental protection, whenever there are reports of pollutants or potential contaminants in the sea, we are obligated to respond and investigate.,” said Diciano in a telephone interview. READ: Slimy, foul-smelling substance washes ashore at Subic beach; probe set Last Sunday, the SBMA Ecology Center conducted a field inspection after receiving reports of the same foul-smelling floating substance off All Hands Beach Resort. The agency collected seawater samples for laboratory analysis in coordination with Subic Water and said the material had naturally dissipated later that day, while the remaining scum that washed ashore was manually collected by resort employees for proper disposal. SBMA earlier said laboratory results were expected within 15 days and that it had yet to determine the source of the floating material. The recurring incidents come months after All Hands Beach Resort sued SBMA, alleging that foul odors from overstaying cargo containers at the Port of Subic had adversely affected its operations and discouraged visitors. The case remains pending. Resort personnel have also claimed that the floating material appears to come from a drainage outlet near the Port of Subic that empties into the sea adjacent to All Hands Beach, although authorities have not established its origin. INQ /mr