By: Dante M. Salvana
SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) strengthened its push for environmental sustainability as it celebrated Earth Day with a large-scale recyclables and hazardous waste collection drive, drawing strong participation from employees, residents, locators, students, and environmental advocates.
SBMA Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose L. Aliño led the event, urging the community—dubbed “environmental warriors”—to take an active role in achieving a greener and more sustainable port ecozone.
Aliño highlighted the urgency of addressing waste generation, noting that millions of tons of municipal solid waste are produced globally each year, with individuals contributing an average of 1.6 pounds of waste daily.
“In a dynamic hub like Subic Bay Freeport Zone—with over 170,000 workers, 6,000 residents, and more than 4,000 establishments—we can only imagine the volume of waste generated every day. But all is not lost. Our environment still has hope,” he said.
According to the SBMA Ecology Center, nearly 167,000 kilograms of waste have been successfully diverted to partner recycling facilities from 2025 to 2026 through similar collection efforts, demonstrating the impact of sustained environmental programs.
The Earth Day activity featured the collection of 18 types of recyclables along with selected hazardous waste materials, promoting proper waste segregation and responsible disposal practices.
Meanwhile, SBMA Senior Deputy Administrator for Regulatory Group Amethya De La Llana-Koval underscored the importance of continued community participation.
“This initiative shows that when the community comes together, we can significantly reduce waste and protect our environment. Every recyclable collected today contributes to a cleaner and more sustainable Subic Bay,” De La Llana-Koval said.
She also shared plans to further elevate future celebrations through the proposed return of the “Earth Day Jam,” a large-scale environmental festival envisioned for November 2026.
“Our dream for November is to bring back Earth Day Jam—a signature SBMA event featuring photo contests, body painting, float parades, and a grand musical celebration with popular bands,” she said.
Previous editions of the event featured performances from well-known OPM acts such as Urban Dub, Brownman Revival, and Nyoy Volante, drawing large crowds and promoting environmental awareness through music and arts.
De La Llana-Koval expressed optimism that the event will once again receive strong support and bring together the community in a vibrant, educational, and entertaining way—free and accessible to the public.
Aliño echoed the call for collective action, emphasizing that environmental protection requires consistent daily effort.
“Every recyclable waste collection event reminds us that our individual actions—reducing, reusing, and recycling—create a powerful collective impact,” he said.
The SBMA continues to champion sustainability initiatives, with the goal of transforming Subic Bay into a model green and resilient port ecozone.
“Maraming salamat sa inyong pakikiisa. Together, we take care of our Mother Earth,” Aliño said.