The Marine Environmental Protection Command celebrated its 24th Founding Anniversary with CG ADM ARTEMIO M ABU, Commandant, Philippine Coast Guard, as the guest of honor and speaker this 14 July 2022 at Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center, Diliman, Quezon City.

During the said ceremony, CG RADM ROBERT N PATRIMONIO, Commander, Marine Environmental Protection Command, rendered the Commander’s Report to the Commandant, Philippine Coast Guard. This report contains all the accomplishments and endeavors of the Command from May 2021 to May 2022.

The Anniversary also became an avenue for MEPCOM to recognize outstanding personnel and unit that exceptionally performed for the said period. A plaque of recognition was awarded to CG SN1 Erwin R Bejerano as the Enlisted Personnel (Support Level) and CG PO2 Lucelo R Villalba Jr as Enlisted Personnel of the Year (Supervisory Level). Consequently, MEPFORCE National Capital Region-Central Luzon was adjudged as the MEPFORCE of the year.

Moreover, MEPCOM showed its gratitude to the different stakeholders and partner agencies with the KAPAKANAN Award. This award is in recognition of the invaluable support as “Kaagapay sa Pag-aalaga sa Kalikasan Natin” (KAPAKANAN) which greatly contributed in pursuing the Command’s mandate of marine environmental protection.

This year, MEPCOM also unveiled its new and enhanced logo. This logo depicts the fifteen (15) oil spill boom as the fifteen (15) MEPFORCES established throughout the Philippines and the atom symbolizes MEPCOM’S science based approach in the performance of the command’s function. With the development of the Real-time Progressive Chronological Report (RT-PCR), the lightning was placed as a symbol of MEPCOM’S capability to quickly respond to maritime incidents. The three words, “PROTECT, PRESERVE, and CONSERVE” encompass the Command’s function and mandates as stated in RA 9993.

This year’s theme “MEPCOM @ 24: Celebrating our Rich Marine Resources and its Staunch Coastguardians through Innovations, Partnership and Collaborations” circumscribe the Command’s endeavors for the past year.