An international ocean conservation group has condemned the ethanol spill from a distillery owned by Universal Robina Corporation (URC) in the Tañon Strait Protected Seascape, calling it an ‘inexcusable’ environmental disaster that demands urgent accountability, transparency, and reparations.
In a statement released Friday, Oceana said the collapse of the ethanol containment lagoon at URC’s Bais Distillery Plant in Negros Oriental risks causing ‘serious and lasting ecological damage’ to the Tañon Strait, the largest marine protected area in the Philippines and a vital source of food and livelihood for coastal communities in Negros and Cebu.
URC, in a statement issued Tuesday, acknowledged the spill and cited unusually heavy and relentless rains, along with a series of earthquakes, as causes for the collapse. The company said it had voluntarily shut down the distillery and was cooperating with authorities on containment and cleanup efforts.
‘Multi-sectoral efforts led by URC Bais Distillery, local government and environmental officials are underway to contain the spillage of wastewater from a breach in our lagoon wall due to earthquake-induced cracks, exacerbated by unexpected continuous heavy rains the past few days,’ the company said.
URC added that while it has been vigilant about the integrity of the lagoon, the ‘unusually heavy and relentless rains and the series of earthquakes led to this unfortunate incident.’
‘We are closely collaborating with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for immediate containment, proper cleanup, and full compliance with environmental standards,’ it said. ‘We are likewise coordinating closely with LGUs to provide any assistance that affected individuals and communities may need at this time.’
The company also said it is committed to building ‘climate-resilient and robust lagoon walls,’ taking into full account the changing environment and the need to keep surrounding communities safe.
In its statement, Oceana Vice President Von Hernandez said: ‘Tañon Strait is a national treasure, not a sacrifice zone for industrial waste.’
‘Oceana calls on the government to hold URC fully accountable for this ethanol wastewater spill. The polluter must pay the highest price for its inexcusable failure to observe due diligence in the operation of its plant,’ the group stressed.
Wastewater spill hits key biodiversity site
On October 27, a section of the 20-hectare lagoon wall at URC’s distillery collapsed, releasing spent molasses wastewater into the sea. According to the Environmental Management Bureau in the Negros Island Region (EMB-NIR), around 400 hectares of the Tañon Strait Protected Seascape were affected.
The breach, reportedly triggered by earthquake-induced cracks exacerbated by heavy rains, spilled waste into the coastal waters of Bais City and Manjuyod, causing fish kills and affecting nearby resorts.
Molasses, although organic, can severely lower oxygen levels in the water when released in excessive amounts, posing a threat to marine life.
The Tañon Strait, recognized for its rich marine biodiversity, is home to 14 species of whales and dolphins and serves as an important breeding, feeding, and nesting ground for various marine animals, including fish, mollusks, and crustaceans.
Following the spill, EMB-NIR issued an interim cease-and-desist order against the URC distillery. Bais City Mayor Luigi Marcel Goñi also ordered a halt to operations until a ‘more concrete, reliable, and long-term solution’ is presented by the company to prevent repeat incidents.
Communities must be compensated
As the ecological and economic impacts continue to unfold, Oceana expressed solidarity with affected communities and pressed both the government and URC to ensure justice.
‘We stand in solidarity with the people of Bais and other communities who are bearing the brunt of corporate negligence,’ Hernandez said.
The group called for full and just compensation for fishers and residents who lost income and livelihood due to the spill. It also urged the immediate launch of both short- and long-term cleanup efforts to contain the damage and restore affected areas.
Oceana emphasized the need for urgent preventive measures to stop the spread of ethanol pollution and prevent it from threatening additional communities. At the same time, it is pushing for a transparent investigation into whether environmental safeguards were followed and whether government agencies fulfilled their oversight responsibilities.
Lastly, the group called for stronger, permanent safeguards to prevent similar disasters from happening again.
‘The beauty, bounty, and ecological integrity of Tañon Strait is now under active threat of adverse impact because of this negligent act,’ Oceana stressed.
‘The spill can affect the nutrient cycling and food web stability of the protected area, and will cause long-lasting damage to its benthic habitats, coral reefs, and seagrass beds, impacting fish and invertebrate populations,’ the group added.