• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Universal Robina Corporation (URC)-Bais Distillery in Negros Oriental is facing both criminal and administrative charges before the Bais City Prosecutor’s Office and Pollution Adjudication Board (PAB), respectively for the waste water spill at the Tanon Strait Protected Seascape.
Estimated damage to marine life was pegged by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources at P182 million.
Regional Director Charlie Fabre of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Negros Island Region (DENR-NIR) said the URC is facing criminal complaints for violation of the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 2018 for the spillage of an estimated 2,555 cubic meters of untreated waste into the Tanon Strait on Oct. 26, following the collapse of its dike.
Since then, the URC was prohibited from resuming operations, following the issuance of a cease and desist order against them.
“They have to comply first with the ruling of the PAB, if they will be allowed to resume operations,” Fabre said.
The DENR-NIR also sought the assistance of Silliman University, University of the Philippines-Dilliman, and the DENR Research Division to conduct further damage assessment of Tanon Strait at Bais Bay for a science-based study on how to rehabilitate the marine protected area.
The URC management blamed the collapse of its dike to numerous earthquakes and heavy rains.
More than a month after the incident, the Philippine Coast Guard reported that dolphins have already been sighted at the Tanon Strait Protected Seascape as they noted an improvement in the waters.
The URC management earlier vowed full cooperation with the authorities.
The incident led to the temporary shutdown of the popular White Sand Bar, locally known as the “Maldives of the Philippines”, in Manjuyod town, and the dolphin watching activities in Bais City. | GB
