The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has welcomed the Japan Disaster Relief (JDR) Expert Team at the National Headquarters, Port Area, Manila, today, 10 March 2023.

The JDR Expert Team, led by Mr. Daisuke Nihei, Minister of Economic Affairs of the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines, is comprised of eight members — five from the Japan Coast Guard (JCG), two from the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines, and one from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

During their visit to the PCG, they committed to helping the PCG in the ongoing oil spill response operations after MT PRINCESS EMPRESS with 800,000 liters of industrial fuel oil submerged in the vicinity waters off Naujan, Oriental Mindoro.

Specifically, the JDR Expert Team will support the investigation of the extent of damage and guide the ongoing oil removal and control activities.

The Japanese Government will also provide equipment, such as oil blotters, oil snares, and oil-proof working gloves, to aid the massive clean-up efforts in the affected coastal barangays.

Ambassador of Japan in the Philippines Kazuhiko Koshikawa said the assistance was in recognition of "amicable relations between Japan and the Philippines on humanitarian grounds and for marine environment protection."

"We hope that the support from the Japanese Government will contribute to preventing further oil contamination and restoring the marine environment in the affected areas," Ambassador Koshikawa said in a statement.

Deputy Commandant for Administration, CG Vice Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan; Deputy Commander of Marine Environmental Protection Command, CG Commodore Teotimo Borja Jr; and Deputy Chief of Coast Staff for Operations (CG-3), CG Captain Roderick Denila, represented the PCG during the visit.

Meanwhile, joining Mr. Nihei as part of the JDR Team were: JDR Expert Team Deputy Leader, Mr. Ono Taro; Chief Oil Prevention and Removal Advisor, Mr. Goto Daisuke; and JDR Expert Team Leader Assistant, Commander Yonezawa Natsuki.