MANILA, Philippines - The Gokongwei family's Universal Robina Corporation (URC) said it is repairing a collapsed portion of a lagoon that released around 255,000 cubic meters of molasses wastewater into Bais Bay in Negros Island which may affect the Tañon Strait Protected Seascape in the Visayas.
In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange on Monday, November 3, URC said 127 personnel and 20 Coast Guard members are repairing the collapsed section of its Bais Distillery's 20-hectare pond.
URC said the repair work was "60% complete" and that it aims to finish repairs by Tuesday, November 4. It added that the new dike will be reinforced and strengthened by rubber tires and boulders.
"Regarding the marine clean-up, we are in close coordination with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and other stakeholder agencies to deploy experts who will help contain the spilled wastewater within a limited area and guide the Company, local and other relevant authorities on how best to foster marine re-growth and recovery," URC said.
The settling pond's collapse on Sunday, October 26, released contaminated wastewater that also reached the popular Majuyod white sandbar.
The Negros Island Region's Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) earlier issued an interim cease and desist order and a second notice of violation against the Gokongwei firm for illegal wastewater discharge.
The EMB's initial assessments found that 382.3 hectares of coastal and marine areas were affected by the spill.
According to URC and the EMB, management reported cracks in the lagoon following aftershocks from the magnitude 6.9 and 7.4 earthquakes that struck Cebu and Davao Oriental on September 30 and October 10, respectively.
The cracks then worsened due to the heavy rainfall on Saturday, October 25, and on succeeding days.
The DENR said, in a statement on Saturday, November 1, that initial water quality assessments conducted by the DENR-Environment Management Bureau "indicate low levels of dissolved oxygen in affected waters, a condition that may cause fishkills and other adverse impacts on aquatic ecosystems."
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Region 7 has issued an advisory prohibiting fishing and consumption of aquatic products from the affected areas.
The DENR said it would conduct a review of URC's Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) and other permits. "As warranted by law, the Department will initiate administrative, civil, and criminal proceedings against responsible parties," the agency said.
The Biodiversity Management Bureau, the DENR said, will undertake with experts the "economic valuation of environmental damages and assess long-term impacts on the Tañon Strait coastal and marine ecosystems."
The Tañon Strait Protected Seascape, which connects the Visayan Sea to the Bohol Sea, serves as a feeding and breeding ground for various marine species such as migratory whales and dolphins.
URC told the local bourse that the company has temporarily ceased operations of the Bais Distillery.
"The company has been providing for the needs of the families affected by the spill and will continue to do so until the situation goes back to normal," the manufacturer said. - Rappler.com