LONDON – Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan (AFAB) Administrator and CEO Hussein P. Pangandaman and AFAB Deputy Administrator for Operations Michael Angelo P. Paderanga joined the 29th session of the 1992 Fund Assembly in the International Oil Pollution Compensation (IOPC) Funds’ Governing Bodies Meeting held at the headquarters of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) last 05-08 November 2024.
AFAB’s participation in the IOPC Funds’ Governing Bodies is essential to safeguard the water and marine environment in the FAB as the agency maintains its prevention and response management to oil spills within its jurisdiction.
The AFAB’s Port Services Division utilizes a Vessel Monitoring System to oversee marine vessels, enabling early detection of potential hazards and swift response. The agency has also actively assisted the Philippine Coast Guard in containing incidents, such as the MT Terra Nova oil spill, conducted onsite inspections, and collaborated with various government agencies to address environmental threats. The agency also supports the Draft Supplementary Fund Assembly Resolution, which raises awareness about the risks associated with uninsured and unsafe vessels, and advocates for stricter regulations and enforcement measures.
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AFAB Administrator and CEO Pangandaman and Deputy Administrator Paderanga joined the meeting together with Philippine delegates including CG CDR Mary Leizl C. Barbero – Philippine Coast Guard Technical Adviser, Office of the Maritime Attache, Philippine Embassy in London; Francois Marier – IOPC Director of International Marine Policy; and Julius A. Yano, JD, LL.M. – Assistant Secretary for Maritime.
The IOPC Funds are two intergovernmental organizations (the 1992 Fund and the Supplementary Fund) which provide compensation for oil pollution damage resulting from spills of persistent oil from tankers. The Philippines is one of the 1992 Fund Member States attending this years’ IOPC Funds’ meeting. The governing bodies of the IOPC Funds meet two or three times a year.
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