DENR temporarily suspends operations of Roxol Bioenergy

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has temporarily suspended the operations of Roxol Bioenergy Corp., a unit of listed sugar miller Roxas Holdings Inc. (RHI), for violation of the Clean Water Act.

In an exchange filing, RHI said its is  appealing for the lifting of the cease and desist order (CDO) issued by the Pollution Adjudication Board (PAB) last week.

 “While working for the lifting of the CDO, Roxol will conduct its annual repairs and maintenance program and accelerate its ongoing integrated project for upgrading and expanding its wastewater treatment facility – to prepare its factory for the second half of fiscal year 2015,” RHI said.

Roxol’s operations in La Carlota, Negros Occidental were reportedly suspended after complaints were filed against the company for polluting the Marayo River.

According to RHI, Roxol’s management “experienced a communication lapse in its pollution management.”

“The lapse was essentially a failure in our internal communication that has been corrected.  We have properly addressed all concerns specified in the order,” said Roxol President and COO Luis Villa-Abrille.

He assured the public that Roxol has started implementing its annual repairs and maintenance program, and remains committed to doing what is right for the good of the community and the environment.

He added that as early as last year, Roxol started upgrading and expanding its waste water treatment facility.

The upgrade and expansion initiatives involve the construction of two new high-density polyethylene-lined lagoons and the installation of pipelines to its Najalin farms for channeling treated waste water for irrigation, pending clearance from the Department of Agriculture.

RHI is an integrated sugar milling business exercising full management of Central Azucarera Don Pedro, Inc., in Nasugbu, Batangas, as well as Central Azucarera de la Carlota, Inc., and Roxol Bionergy Corp. In La Carlota, Negros Occidental.