Wastewater spill hits protected area

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — Wastewater from a collapsed dike in a lagoon of a distillery company in Bais City in Negros Oriental has spread to 3,000 hectares of the Tañon Strait Protected Seascape, according to the Environment Management Bureau-Negros Island Region.

Vicente Losbañes, chief of EMB-NIR, said they have yet to determine the extent of damage caused by the wastewater spill to fish and other marine life in Manjuyod and Bais City.

The EMB-NIR has issued a cease-and-desist order as well as a notice of violation to the distillery for discharging wastewater and maintaining a structure without clearance from the Protected Area Management Board.

The collapse of the dike caused wastewater from sugar syrup or molasses processing to flow toward Bais Bay.

The distillery has stopped operating and gave assuarnce that efforts are underway to contain the spill.

Manjuyod and Bais have been placed under a state of calamity following the incident, which caused fishkill and displaced fisherfolk, according to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) advised the public not to fish or gather aquatic organisms such as finfish, crustaceans and seaweed in areas affected by the wastewater spill.

BFAR-Central Visayas director Mario Ruinata raised concerns on the possible health risks from consuming contaminated seafood collected from affected areas.

The Tañon Strait is a feeding, breeding and nestling ground for marine mammals, and home to different fish species, mollusks and crustaceans.

The incident prompted authorities to temporarily close the Manjuyod Sandbar, known as the Maldives of the Philippines.