Bacolod City Mayor Albee Benitez hosted a welcome dinner for the Regional Marine Pollution Exercises (MARPOLEX) 2024, which brought together coast guard representatives from the Philippines, Indonesia, and Japan at the SMX Convention Center on June 24.

Mayor Benitez, the guest of honor for the welcoming rites, expressed his gratitude for the coast guards’ unwavering commitment to ensuring maritime safety. “At the end of the day, there is only one world that we have to take care of,” he added.

Philippine Coast Guard Commandant, Admiral Ronnie Gil L. Gavan, offered a toast to Mayor Benitez for his gracious acceptance to host this year’s MARPOLEX and his generosity towards the coast guard.

Coast guard representatives from Korea, Taiwan, and the United States were also present at the welcome dinner.

MARPOLEX 2024 is scheduled to take place from June 24 to 29, featuring various exercises on search and rescue, firefighting, oil spill and equipment recovery, and damage assessment.
(Source: Bacolod City Public Information Office)