A chemical spill from an ethanol distillery has put one of the Philippines’ largest marine protected areas at risk.
A wall retaining the wastewater pond of an ethanol distillery plant collapsed on Oct. 24, causing about 255,000 cubic meters (67 million gallons) of wastewater to flow into Bais Bay in the central Philippines, according to the Bais City government. The plant is owned by Philippine food and beverage conglomerate Universal Robina Corporation (URC).
Bais Bay is part of the Tañon Strait Protected Seascape (TSPS), a narrow body of water between the islands of Negros and Cebu. The strait is home to about 14 species of whales and dolphins, including the Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncus) and short-finned pilot whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus). The strait also supports diverse habitats, including mangrove forests and coral reefs, and is an important fishing ground and tourist attraction.
“[T]he beauty, bounty, and ecological integrity of Tañon Strait is under active threat of being adversely impacted by this negligent act,” marine conservation nonprofit Oceana said in a statement. “The spill can affect the nutrient cycling and food web stability of the protected area, and cause long-lasting damage to its benthic habitats, coral reefs, and seagrass beds, impacting fish and invertebrate populations.”
According to authorities, preliminary assessments suggest there was “visible discoloration across North Bais Bay, posing significant risks to marine biodiversity, fisheries, and local livelihoods,” the Manilla Bulletin reported.
Following the spill, Bais City’s mayor issued an order on Oct. 28 suspending all tourism activities, including dolphin watching and swimming. The same day, the fisheries bureau issued a local advisory warning the public against harvesting and consuming fish, crustaceans or seaweed.
Maria Dorica Naz-Hipe, assistant director of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB), said on Nov. 3 that at least 3,000 fisherfolk and 17 coastal villages were affected. She added that URC will need to compensate those affected and pay penalties for the damage to the protected seascape.
Oceana said the government must “hold URC fully accountable for this ethanol wastewater spill,” and not let the company get away with a mere “slap on the wrist” like it had for similar incidents in the past.
“Oceana demands that Universal Robina Corporation (URC) and the concerned government agencies act with urgency and ensure transparency to clean up this mess, initiate preventive measures to stop the continuing spread of ethanol pollution to neighboring areas, compensate the victims justly and fully for loss of income and livelihood, and ensure that such a disaster not happen again,” Von Hernandez, Oceana’s vice president in the Philippines, told Mongabay in a statement.
According to The Manila Times, URC said in a statement that the wall’s collapse was “due to earthquake-induced cracks, exacerbated by unexpected continuous heavy rains.” The company added it’s working with authorities to ensure “proper cleanup and full compliance with environmental standards.”
Banner image: Satellite images of the chemical spill in Bais Bay. Images courtesy of Sentinel-2L2A.
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