• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Bais City Mayor Luigi Marcel Goñi on Tuesday, Oct. 28, ordered the management of URC Sugar and Renewables (SURE) Distillery to immediately cease operations to prevent further damage to eco-marine life within the Tañon Strait in Negros Oriental.
The order came after the recent incident involving the leaking of one of its containment lagoon that caused the discoloration of Bais City seawater.
The Manjuyod White Sandbar, nicknamed as the “Maldives of the Philippines,” was temporarily closed due to occurrence of water discoloration.
In an executive order dated Oct. 27, suspending acceptance of visitors to the Manjuyod Sandbar, Mayor Raffy Alipio Andaya said the water discoloration was blamed on the discharge of wastewater effluent from collapsed lagoon dike of URC-SURE Bais Distillery, affecting the coastal waters and marine environment of Manjuyod town.
Andaya said the URC-SURE Bais Distillery lagoon dike collapsed due to earthquake-induced cracks and continuous heavy rainfall over the past several days. “The contamination poses potential health and environmental hazards, and immediate preventive action is necessary to ensure the safety of visitors, residents and stakeholders,” the mayor said.
For his part, Goñi said the order will be immediately lifted the moment URC-SURE will come up with a more concrete, reliable and long-term solution to the problem that has been recurring for several years.
In a letter to the URC-SURE distillery management, the mayor said that the Bais City government will impose sanctions, or penalties to any entity, or company, that has committed any violation of existing laws and local ordinances.
In Manjuyod, the local disaster council as well as the environment and natural resources office are coordinating with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and other concerned government agencies for immediate water quality testing, assessment, and monitoring.
Access to the affected area is restricted during the closure period, Andaya said.
“Tourism operations at the Manjuyod White Sandbar shall resume only upon clearance and recommendation from the concerned regulatory and environmental agencies confirming that the area is safe, and free from contamination,” he added.
The Manjuyod White Sandbar is known for its pristine white sand and crystal clear waters.
Visitors may enjoy dolphin watching, snorkeling and swimming.
Its sandbar is fully visible at low tide and is submerged when the tide is high. | GB
