Palace says URC must address wastewater spill; charges possible
MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Wednesday, November 5, said the Universal Robina Corp. (URC) must address the ethanol spill it caused, warning of possible charges.
Around 255,000 cubic meters of wastewater leaked into Bais Bay in Negros Oriental after a 15-meter dike in a URC facility broke. The resulting spill affected 400 hectares in the Tañon Strait, one of the country’s largest marine protected areas.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has been made aware of the spill while containment measures are on the way.
“Nagkaron na rin po nang pakikipag usap sa URC Bais Distillery at kinakailangan po nilang ayusin ito nang maagaran,” Castro said in a briefing.
(There have been talks with the URC Bais Distillery and they need to fix this immediately.)
Pressed by reporters on whether or not the company will face punishment or penalties, Castro said that the law will be upheld should any wrongdoing be found.
“If the law has been broken, the government will not hesitate to file a case,” Castro said in Filipino.
The Palace warned locals to avoid fishing and collecting other aquatic organisms.
The Gokongwei-owned URC has already owned up to the spill, vowing to clean up the mess.
Fisherfolk group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (PAMALAKAYA) said that around 3,000 fisherfolk in Bais City have been affected by the spill.
PAMALAKAYA-Negros Chairperson Vincent Fernandez said that it will take time before the fisherfolk of Bais and Manjuyod can go back to work again.
“Nararapat rin na agaran ang aksyon ng lokal na pamahalaan at mga kinauukulang ahensya para alalayan ang mga mangingisdang hindi makakapalaot,” Fernandez said.
(The local government and pertinent agencies must aid the fisherfolk who cannot fish.)
Fernandez also reported that the oil spill was already killing fish in the area.
The towns of Bais and Manjuyod have already declared a state of calamity due to the wastewater spill.
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