Southeast Asia · Case study

Philippines, National Assessment of Ballast Water and Biofouling Risk

Philippines (national; Manila Bay and other ports)2018 to 2024

The Philippines acceded to the IMO Ballast Water Management (BWM) Convention and the Anti-fouling Systems (AFS) Convention on 6 June 2018; both entered into force for the Philippines on 6 September 2018 (MARINA, 2024). The country was one of twelve Lead Partnering Countries in the GEF-UNDP-IMO GloFouling Partnerships project (GloFouling Partnerships, n.d.). A national assessment prepared by Dr Benjamin M. Vallejo Jr. and hosted by PEMSEA shows why ship-borne invasive species matter to Philippine ports. The invasive mussel Mytella was first recorded in the South Harbor of Manila in 2014 and has spread to Lingayen Gulf, Aparri, Cagayan and Batangas Port. Known invasive species in Manila Bay rose from 3 when research began in 2006 to likely more than 30 by 2021. Green mussel farming fell by 60 to 70 percent in Dagupan and 50 percent in Sual (PEMSEA, 2022). The assessment found that, at the time it was prepared, the Philippines did not have legislation that specifically addresses marine invasive species in maritime transport (PEMSEA, 2022).

Approach

Join the IMO conventions. MARINA has banned anti-fouling paints containing tributyltin (TBT) (PEMSEA, 2022).

Assign clear institutional roles. The Philippine Coast Guard is the Port State Control Authority. The assessment recommends that a ballast water and biofouling law sit with MARINA, the port authorities (PPA, Cebu Port Authority and Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority) and the Coast Guard (PEMSEA, 2022).

Work through regional bodies. A PEMSEA Regional Task Force with 12 countries of the region adopted a Regional Strategy on Biofouling Management in September 2023 (GloFouling Partnerships, 2023). ASEAN member states then adopted the strategy at the 47th ASEAN Maritime Transport Working Group Meeting (GloFouling Partnerships, 2024).

Reach smaller vessel owners. From 30 September to 2 October 2024, MARINA led an awareness event on biofouling of recreational vessels at the BEACON 2024 expo (GloFouling Partnerships, 2024).

Results

The Philippines is a party to the BWM and AFS Conventions (MARINA, 2024). A national assessment has set out which agencies should implement a future law, and a regional biofouling strategy was adopted in 2023 and then by ASEAN member states (PEMSEA, 2022; GloFouling Partnerships, 2023; 2024). No dedicated national biofouling or ballast water law was in place when the assessment was prepared.

Transferability

DMC maritime administrations can follow the same sequence: join the BWM and AFS Conventions, carry out a national assessment of invasive species pathways and impacts, and agree which agencies will regulate, inspect and enforce. Port authorities can use local invasive species records, such as those from Manila Bay, to justify action. Regional bodies such as PEMSEA and the ASEAN Maritime Transport Working Group offer a route to shared strategies. Awareness work should include recreational and small craft, not only large ships.

Sources

All information used for this case study was based on publicly available resources.