The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is spearheading a coordinated response to the wastewater spill in Bais City, Negros Oriental, after an estimated 255,000 cubic meters of molasses wastewater flowed into Bais Bay. The spill threatens around 382.29 hectares of marine ecosystems across 13 barangays within the Tañon Strait Protected Seascape.
Following the incident, the DENR convened a technical conference with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and local government authorities to coordinate containment measures. Regional offices from Region 7 and the Negros Island Region have conducted onsite inspections and are leading joint containment and rehabilitation efforts with partner agencies and LGUs.
The DENR also met with representatives of Universal Robina Corporation (URC), which committed to expedite the repair of the breached dike by November 4, cooperate with government agencies, and provide relief to affected residents in Bais and Manjuyod. URC likewise agreed to support a full ecological damage assessment by experts from local universities such as Silliman University.
Initial water quality tests by the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) revealed low dissolved oxygen levels, a condition that may trigger fishkills and disrupt aquatic ecosystems. The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Region 7 has since issued an advisory banning fishing and the collection or consumption of aquatic products from the affected areas pending further analysis.
A multi-agency team composed of experts from the DENR, EMB, Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB), BFAR, Protected Area Management Office (PAMO), local governments, and the academe will collaborate with URC’s technical team to conduct water quality analyses, hydrodynamic modeling, and environmental impact assessments to guide remediation strategies.
The DENR announced it will review URC’s Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) and related permits and will initiate administrative, civil, and criminal actions against responsible parties if warranted. The BMB, with Sukat ng Kalikasan experts, will undertake an economic valuation of the environmental damage and study the long-term effects on Tañon Strait’s coastal and marine ecosystems.
Regular monitoring of water quality and URC’s compliance with the ECC and the Clean Water Act continues. On November 5, the DENR will convene the Executive Committee of the Tañon Strait Protected Seascape Protected Area Management Board to outline rehabilitation strategies and ensure sustained protection of the affected zones.
The DENR said it is “leading actions towards full ecological recovery as well as accountability,” emphasizing that the response is guided by “science, transparency, and full coordination with concerned agencies, local authorities, and the communities.” The Department reaffirmed its commitment to uphold environmental laws, ensure accountability, and restore the ecological integrity of the Tañon Strait Protected Seascape, assuring the public that “comprehensive monitoring and rehabilitation efforts are ongoing.”
