Ethanol spill disaster: Dark waters, lost income

CEBU, Philippines — More than 4,500 families in Negros Oriental are now reeling from the dire effects of the ethanol wastewater spill from a distillery plant in Bais City into the seas, following the collapse of the wall of the 20-hectare wastewater lagoon earlier this week.

The incident has since become one of the province’s most significant environmental disasters, affecting livelihoods, tourism, and marine biodiversity along the province’s eastern coast.

Governor Manuel “Chaco” Longa Sagarbarria confirmed that the wastewater spill has spread across 13 barangays in Bais City and Manjuyod town, prompting the declaration of a state of calamity in the city.

In Bais City alone, around 3,500 families from eight coastal barangays—Tamiso, San Isidro, Tancolugan, Okiot, Looc, Binohon, Olympia, and Talungon---were reportedly overwhelmed.

Neighboring Manjuyod town also reported at least 1,000 devastated families in barangays Maaslom, Alangilanan, Dungguan, San Jose, and Campuyo.

The incident also dealt a severe blow to fisherfolk communities that depend heavily on the Tañon Strait.

Data from local governments show that over 3,000 fisherfolk in Bais City and nearly 900 families in Manjuyod have lost their primary source of income.

Following a coordination meeting on Wednesday (October 29), it was agreed that Universal Robina Corporation (URC), the operator of the distillery, will extend immediate financial assistance to each affected family.

"URC will extend immediate assistance to the identified affected families in Manjuyod and Bais City at P5,000 per family," Saggarbarria noted in the message.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will also distribute food packs to households in the affected communities.

On October 27, the Environmental Management Bureau in Negros Island Region (EMB-NIR) reported that the collapse of the lagoon wall was caused by earthquake-induced cracks worsened by heavy rains, which in turn triggered the spill of spent molasses and wastewater into nearby rivers and eventually into the sea.

The spill, discovered around 7 a.m. that Sunday, affected nearly 400 hectares of coastal waters and has since expanded further.

The EMB-NIR immediately issued a cease-and-desist order against URC’s Bais Distillery to halt operations pending cleanup and investigation.

The wastewater, described as thick and dark brown, has discolored the seawater and caused a mass fish kill in shallow coastal areas, particularly around Bais Bay and Manjuyod.

According to Manric Barillo, head of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Division (PENRD), the visible discoloration has spread across 1,000 hectares as of October 29, and traces have been observed as far as Bindoy town.

Barillo said the entire 5,400-hectare Bais Bay is believed to be affected, adding that water samples have been sent to Cebu laboratories to determine contamination levels. Results are expected within the week.

The provincial government has suspended all tourism activities in the affected areas, including dolphin-watching tours and visits to the famed Manjuyod Sandbar.

Agriculture also affected

Provincial Agriculturist Emmanuel Caduyac confirmed that the contamination reached aquaculture ponds near the distillery.

One 11-hectare aquaculture site, located just a kilometer from URC’s facility, has already been wiped out.

The Tañon Strait, a protected seascape, serves as a feeding and breeding ground for dolphins, whales, and numerous fish species.

URC's accountability

URC operations manager, lawyer Rachel Cawit, said the company has begun rehabilitation and containment efforts, starting with the repair of the collapsed seawall.

She added that the company is constructing a sturdier buffer zone and a higher dike that would expand the protective distance between the lagoon and the shoreline to 1.5 kilometers. RAE CEBU NEWS