Waste spill hits protected seas in Negros Oriental
BACOLOD CITY—The collapse of the wall of the 20-hectare wastewater lagoon of a distillery in Bais City, Negros Oriental, due to earthquake-induced cracks exacerbated by heavy rains, caused its content to spill into 400 hectares of the Tañon Strait Protected Seascape, the Environment Management Bureau in Negros Island Region (EMB-NIR) said Tuesday.
The EMB-NIR immediately issued an interim cease-and-desist order on Monday against Universal Robina Corp.’s (URC) Bais Distillery after 15 meters of its lagoon containing spent molasses collapsed on Sunday, said Vicente Losbañes, EMB-NIR acting director.
But even before the order was issued, URC already voluntarily shut down the distillery on Monday, he said.
The waste spill from the distillery that was discovered at 7 a.m. on Sunday covered coastal waters in Bais and Manjuyod town, affecting resorts and causing a fish kill in shallow waters, Losbañes said.
The distillery produces ethanol from molasses, according to Losbañes.
Molasses is organic and not toxic, but excessive amounts on the surface of the water lowers oxygen levels endangering marine life, he said.
Tañon Strait serves as a feeding, breeding, and nesting ground for marine mammals. It is also known for its diversity of fish, mollusk, and crustaceans species.
URC Bais Distillery, in a statement Tuesday, said multisectoral efforts led by the firm, local government and environmental officials were under way to contain the spillage of wastewater from a breach in their lagoon wall “due to earthquake-induced cracks, exacerbated by unexpected continuous heavy rains the past few days.”
While the company has been vigilant and diligent about the integrity of its lagoon, the unusually heavy and relentless rains and the series of earthquakes led to this unfortunate incident, it added.
Incident report
“We are closely collaborating with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources for immediate containment, proper cleanup and full compliance with environmental standards. We are likewise coordinating closely with LGUs (local government units) to provide any assistance that affected individuals and communities may need at this time,” the company said.
The distillery will only be allowed to resume operations when the lagoon wall has been repaired and waste water is contained, Losbañes said.
He said the Office of the President on Tuesday asked them to submit a report on the incident.
Bais City Mayor Luigi Marcel Goñi also issued an order on Tuesday directing the URC distillery to stop operations immediately to prevent further damage to ecomarine life within the Tañon Strait.
The order will be lifted when URC is able to come up with “a more concrete, reliable, and long-term solution to this problem that has been recurring for several years,” he said.
