Groups flag US waste imports sent to Subic
Environmental groups on Thursday called out the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) for allegedly allowing the importation of more than 200 cargo containers of suspected electronic waste (e-waste) from the United States through the Subic Bay Freeport Zone in violation of international law.
In a press briefing at the launch of the Environmental Task Force Against Illegal E-Waste Imports to the Philippines (END E-WASTE IMPORTS), the groups revealed the findings of the Basel Action Network’s (BAN) “Operation Can Opener” monitoring campaign.
The campaign used GPS trackers and trade data to track down suspected e-waste shipments to facilities in Subic.
Images presented during the press briefing showed stockpiles of electronic waste stored outdoors and exposed to the elements.
Separate customs territory
Since March 2025, BAN has alerted Philippine authorities to 234 cargo containers of suspected e-waste and one container of plastic waste that entered the freeport.
However, the group said the Bureau of Customs could not take action due to a 2025 ruling of the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) that recognized the Subic Bay Freeport as a separate customs territory.
BAN and local nongovernmental organization BAN Toxics have questioned the RTC decision before the Court of Appeals.
BAN Toxics campaign and advocacy officer Thony Dizon said the court ruling weakens the Philippines’ environmental safeguards and compliance with the Basel Convention, which regulates the cross-border movement of hazardous waste.
“We vehemently condemn the RTC ruling that paves way for the entry and dumping of imported e-waste in the Philippines in violation of the Basel Convention, as it is alarming and constitutes a clear encroachment on our environmental protection obligations and national sovereignty, ” Dizon said.
‘Pursue legislative measures’
“This is not acceptable. Countries cannot carve out territories and say that the Basel Convention does not apply there, just to allow hazardous waste trade that does not comply with Basel rules,” said BAN cofounder and chief of strategic direction Jim Puckett.
During the briefing, Kabataan partylist Rep. Renee Co criticized SBMA officials for pushing to exempt free trade zones, such as Subic, from international law, like the Basel Convention. She also vowed to pursue legislative measures to prosecute those responsible.
Marian Ledesma, Greenpeace Philippines campaigner, said that the waste trade is an environmental and social injustice that shifts the burden of wealthy nations’ overproduction and overconsumption onto countries in the Global South.
Miko Aliño of Break Free From Plastic said the ongoing 15th Basel Open-ended Working Group meeting should spotlight the alleged use of free trade zone exemptions to bypass treaty obligations.
In response, the SBMA said it has yet to receive official information on the matter.
According to SBMA Communications Department head Armie Llamas, they will never allow “the entry of any form of waste materials because these pose environmental and health risks and strain government resources.” —WITH A REPORT FROM JOANNA ROSE AGLIBOT
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