• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Universal Robina Corporation-Sugar and Renewables (URC-SURE), which is being blamed for the wastewater discharge into territorial waters of Bais City and Manjuyod in Negros Oriental, has halted its operations after receiving a cease and desist order (CDO) from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
The DENR issued a CDO and a second notice of violation to the URC-SURE for illegal wastewater discharge and maintaining a structure without clearance from the Protected Area Management Board.
The collapse of a containment lagoon of URC-SURE in Barangay Tamiso, Bais City on Oct. 26 led to the release of molasses wastewater into Bais Bay within the Tanon Strait Protected Seascape, according to the DENR.
DENR investigation showed the dike of URC’s settling pond collapsed, releasing about 90 percent of its spent wash content into nearby waters, which led to the discoloration of North Bais Bay and posing potential risks to marine biodiversity, fisheries, and local livelihood.
About 382.3 hectares of coastal and marine area are believed to be potentially affected, based on the preliminary findings of the DENR.
In a statement, DENR said it issued an interim CDO and second notice of violation to URC-SURE to complement the stop operations order issued by Bais City Mayor Luigi Marcel Goñi and the stop tourism activities in the Manjuyod Sandbar by the local government unit (LGU) of Manjuyod to ensure accountability and environmental safety.
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) also issued an advisory, which discourages the public from fishing, gathering aquatic organisms, such as but not limited to finfish, crustaceans and seaweeds, in areas affected by the wastewater spill in Manjuyod and Bais City.
In an advisory, BFAR-Central Visayas Regional Director Mario Ruinata raised concerns on the possible health risks from eating contaminated seafood from the affected territorial waters of the two LGUs.
Collecting dead fish and other aquatic organisms from the affected areas for consumption is not recommended as they may contain pathogens, chemicals, and pollutants that pose risks to human health, Ruinata said.
Negros Oriental Governor Manuel Sagarbarria also expressed his grave concern over the ethanol spill, affecting sectors dependent on the Tanon Strait for livelihood and sustenance.
Sagarbarria said the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Division and the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office are now closely coordinating with the affected LGUs, Philippine Coast Guard, Department of Environment and Natural Resources for the containment, clean up, and rehabilitation operations to be carried out by URC-SURE, ensuring compliance with the national environmental regulations.
In a statement, the URC said multi-sectoral efforts are underway to contain the spillage of wastewater from a breach in their lagoon wall “due to earthquake-induced cracks, exacerbated by unexpected continuous heavy rains in the past few days”.
DENR said it continues to monitor the incident, in close coordination with the Bais City and Manjuyod LGUs, to guide the ongoing cleanup activities, water sampling, and ecosystem recovery efforts. | GB
