BACOLOD CITY -- A catastrophic wastewater spill from a distillery plant has contaminated nearly 400 hectares of the Tañon Strait Protected Seascape (TSPS), the Philippines' largest marine protected area, triggering health warnings, livelihood disruptions, and government crackdowns, authorities confirmed this week.
Spanning 521,000 hectares between Negros and Cebu islands, the TSPS was designated a protected zone via Presidential Proclamation 1234 in 1998.
The spill's epicenter lies in Bais City and the Manjuyod Sandbar -- dubbed the "Maldives of the Philippines" -- where residents first reported unusual water discoloration and mass fishkill washed ashore.
The crisis prompted the Office of the President to demand a full comprehensive report on the incident.
The Environment Management Bureau in the Negros Island Region (EMB-NIR) traced the spill to have emanated from the collapsed 20-hectare wastewater lagoon wall at the URC-SURE Distillery Plant in Bais City.
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Earthquake-induced cracks in the dike, worsened by heavy rains, caused the failure, according to EMB-NIR.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) added that the dike of the plant's Lagoon 6 settling pond released up to 90 percent of its spent wash content, with preliminary assessments linking the contamination to 382.3 hectares of coastal and marine habitats.
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Critically, records show the dike was built before the TSPS's 1998 protection designation and the 2018 Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System Act; the plant is also a rented facility.
In response, the DENR issued an interim cease-and-desist order and a second notice of violation to the company on Monday for wastewater discharge and operating a structure without prior Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) clearance.
This follows a June 3, 2025, first violation notice, a local government-issued stop operations order for the plant, and a ban on tourism activities at the Manjuyod Sandbar.
The DENR is coordinating with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), PAMB, Philippine Coast Guard, and local governments to contain the spill, assess damage, and protect the strait's biodiversity.
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BFAR-7 has issued a strict advisory for Bais and Manjuyod residents to avoid fishing, collecting, or consuming any aquatic life, including finfish, crustaceans, and seaweeds, due to potential health risks from contamination.
Dead marine organisms, the advisory notes, may carry harmful pathogens, chemicals, or pollutants.
The spill has already upended local livelihoods, with 10 coastal barangay in Bais City hit hardest: Tamisu, Katacgahan, Biñohon, San Isidro, Tangculogan, Talungon, Olympia, Okiot, Capiñahan, and Looc.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has distributed 6,594 family food packs to affected households and is continuing to coordinate with local officials to deliver additional support.
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The TSPS is home to 11 endangered species, including hawksbill turtles, dwarf sperm whales, and the Philippine cuckatoo.
Marine biologists from Silliman University's Marine Laboratory warn the spent wash's high organic load could trigger algal blooms that suffocate coral reefs (30 percent of the strait's reefs are already threatened) and wipe out juvenile fish populations.
"We've found 20-plus dead sea turtles washed ashore in Manjuyod," Dr. Carlos Mendez, lead researcher, said.
"The full impact on biodiversity won't be clear for six months, but early signs are catastrophic," Mendez said.
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'Swift, science-based, coordinated action'
The DENR said it is taking "swift, science-based, and coordinated action" after the release of molasses wastewater into the Bais Bay within the Tañon Strait Protected Seascape.
The incident resulted from the collapse of a containment lagoon at the Universal Corporation's Bais Distillery in Barangay Tamiso, Bais City, Negros Oriental, last Oct. 26.
Initial assessments showed that the collapse of Lagoon 6 of URC's settling pond resulted in the release of around 90 percent of its content. The DENR added that there was also visible discoloration in North Bais Bay, with preliminary findings suggesting that an estimated 382.3 hectares of coastal and marine area may be affected.
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According to the DENR, the collapsed dike was reportedly constructed before the issuance of relevant protected area laws -- particularly Presidential Proclamation 1234, which declared the Tañon Strait as a protected area, and Republic Act 11038 or the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 2018. It added that the facility was being rented by the URC for use as a wastewater settling pond.
As part of its response measures, the DENR ordered the collection of water samples last Oct. 27 for laboratory analysis, with results expected to come out within 3 to 7 days. Water quality is also continuously being monitored.
The agency also deployed drones and patrol boats for aerial and sea surveillance to monitor the spread of the wastewater spill and map marine habitats that are potentially affected.
The agency has also sent a technical support team made up of experts from various agencies, including DENR agencies, as well as the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), local government units, and the academe, to assess the impact of the spill on water quality, fisheries, seagrass, coral reefs, and marine animals.
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The DENR also ordered the URC to rehabilitate and repair the damaged lagoon immediately and submit a detailed Environmental Rehabilitation and Restoration Plan, as well as commit to providing financial compensation for affected residents.
The DENR stated that the URC plant has stopped its operations and added that the agency is closely coordinating with agencies such as the BFAR, PAMB, Philippine Coast Guard, and LGUs in the ongoing cleanup and ecosystem recovery efforts.