An environmental group warned of grave impacts on the livelihood of local fisherfolk and on local populations of dolphins after a wastewater spill from an ethanol plant in Bais City, Negros Oriental.
Earth Island Institute-Asia Pacific (EII-AP) said it expresses deep concern over the incident as it happened at a fishing area and within the Tañon Strait Protected Seascape (TSPS).
An ethanol spill from a Universal Robina Corporation distillery plant in Bais City happened last October 24 as its 15-meter dike collapsed, dumping untreated wastewater and harmful chemicals into the sea.
“The Tañon Strait is one of the most important marine ecosystems in the Philippines, recognized for its rich biodiversity and as a critical habitat for at least fourteen (14) species of dolphins and whales,” EII-AP said.
About 400 hectares of the Tañon Strait between Negros and Cebu islands have been reportedly affected by the spill.
EEI said the release of ethanol-laden effluent into North Bais Bay has resulted in visible water discoloration, fish kills, and the disruption of fisheries and tourism activities — threatening both marine wildlife and the food security and income of local fisherfolk.
“While the full extent of ecological damage has yet to be determined, the spill poses serious risks to sensitive species, including marine mammals that depend on the productivity and ecological balance of the Tañon Strait,” EII-AP pointed out.
The TSPS, declared under Presidential Proclamation No. 1234 in 1998, is the country’s largest marine protected area that covers about 521,000 hectares.
It is home to 14 dolphin species such as the spinner, common bottlenose, Indo-Pacific bottlenose, pantropical spotted, risso’s, fraser’s and others.
It also sustains coral reefs, seagrass beds, mangroves, and countless fish and invertebrate species that support the livelihoods of coastal communities on both islands.
The Bais City government suspended all regular tourism trips to the Sand Bar and dolphin-watching activities that are major livelihood activities in the area after farming and fishing.
Residents of at least eight barangays in Bais City and Manjuyod municipality have also complained that their fishing activities have stopped, causing economic disruptions to many families.
EII-AP said it is calling for:
- The immediate accountability from the company responsible for the spill, including full disclosure of incident details, volume of discharge, and ecological impact;
- Transparent and science-based investigation by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), and the TSPS management board;
- Comprehensive rehabilitation measures for impacted coastal and marine habitats; and
- Stronger enforcement of environmental safeguards to prevent similar incidents in marine protected areas and other ecologically critical zones. Industrial negligence has no place in protected seascapes.
“We urge government agencies, local authorities, and industries to uphold their duty to protect marine life and ensure that the people who depend on these waters are not made to suffer the consequences of corporate irresponsibility,” EII-AP said.
“The Tañon Strait is a living sanctuary — home to dolphins, whales, and generations of fisherfolk. Its protection is an obligation owed to both nature and future generations,” the group added. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)
