By Marita Moaje | Philippine News Agency
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources–Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) on Monday said Universal Robina Corporation (URC) should compensate fisherfolk for the molasses wastewater spill in Bais Bay and Manjuyod, Negros Oriental, and rehabilitate damaged marine areas in the Tañon Strait Protected Seascape (TSPS).
In a television interview, DENR-EMB Assistant Director Maria Dorica Naz-Hipe said around 255,000 cubic meters of molasses wastewater leaked from URC’s lagoon on Oct. 26 after a 15-meter section of the dike collapsed, contaminating the TSPS—a major breeding ground for fish and marine mammals.
Naz-Hipe said around 3,000 fisherfolk were affected in the two towns after they were prohibited from fishing while the wastewater is still visible.
“Part po yan nung kanilang sa ECC (environmental compliance certificate) condition is that they shall pay or they shall cover yung mga ganyang compensation if there is damage to the environment or sa mga stakeholders,” she said.
However, Naz-Hipe said the amount would still need to be decided by the stakeholders.
“‘Yon po ay pag-uusapan. But they will be required to compensate. Iba po ‘yung penalties doon sa compensation. The company is supposed to come up with an environmental guarantee fund. And this fund is used to pay for the damages and compensation—damages to the environment, compensation to the affected stakeholders. So, malaki po,” she added.
Naz-Hipe said that aside from the compensation for the affected fisherfolk, the URC is also liable, under the Clean Water Act, for water pollution violations.
“Under the Clean Water Act, may possible violations of the water quality standards or effluent standards, and this shall be elevated to the Pollution Adjudication Board. So meron pong penalties. I think it’s already about P500,000 a day,” she said.
“The Pollution Adjudication Board, the PAB, sila po ‘yung magde-determine ng penalties po in terms of violation of the Clean Water Act. Sa field office natin, meron din pong liability violations of our environmental impact statement system.”
The URC has stopped operations after the DENR issued a cease-and-desist order (CDO) following the incident, and is focusing on the rehabilitation of the affected community.
The Bais City government has since declared a state of calamity through Resolution No. 960-25, approved by Mayor Luigi Marcel Goñi on Oct. 31, following the recommendation of the city’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.
The spill has affected 17 coastal villages across Bais and neighboring Manjuyod town, prompting bans on fishing, swimming, and other coastal activities.
Dolphin watching tours in Bais Bay were likewise suspended, while Manjuyod Mayor Raffy Andaya halted tourism activities at the Manjuyod White Sandbar due to water discoloration and foul odor.
Meanwhile, Naz-Hipe said the URC has already repaired about 90% of the damaged wastewater pond and pledged to complete rehabilitation by Nov. 4.
She said cleanup efforts are being closely monitored by the DENR, together with the local governments, and the Philippine Coast Guard.
Silliman University is also assisting in assessing environmental impacts.
