Molasses spill hits 4 Negros Occidental villages
BACOLOD CITY – Four barangays in Binalbagan, Negros Occidental have been affected by the molasses spill from a sugar mill.
A MOLASSES spill hits four barangays in Binalbagan, Negros Occidental. (Photo via Municipal Agriculture Office/Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office/FB)
Mayor Alejandro Mirasol said in a Tuesday interview that affected barangays were San Juan, Canmoros, Marina, and Progreso.
City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO)-Kabankalan Supervising Environment Management Specialist Lucia Salazar, said that molasses in the pond-type stockpile of Binalbagan-Isabela Sugar Company (BISCOM) evaporated because of the intense heat on April 19 that reached 43°C.
About 4,890 tons of molasses were in the stockpile but only 2,400 tons were left after the spill, she said.
Salazar said that the company immediately collected the spilled molasses but they failed to prevent it from reaching the river. She added that fish kill was reported in Barangay Canmoros.
She said that sandbags have been placed on the river to help contain the spill but they advised the company to put bio enzymes on the river to reduce the smell of molasses.
Salazar said that they have collected water samples from the Binalbagan River and sent these to the Environment Management Bureau (EMB) in Iloilo City for a laboratory test.
She noted that although molasses is a waste agricultural product, too much molasses could be harmful.
The Pollution Adjudication Board (PAB) will decide on the penalty to be imposed on the company, she said.
Following a meeting with concerned agencies on the incident on Monday, April 21, Mirasol said that the spill has been contained and cleanup of the river is ongoing.
However, he said that the company may face sanctions related to the incident depending on the assessment of the EMB.
Mirasol said that they were saddened about the incident and assured that the local government together with the BISCOM and environmental agencies are actively working on cleanup and recovery.
The local government apologized for the inconvenience and assured affected residents that if health issues arise from the incident, they will be accommodated at the town infirmary.
Mirasol said they are closely monitoring the situation. “The health and safety of our residents and the preservation of our natural resources remain our top priorities,” he said.
Lt. Junior Grade James Carbajosa, acting commander of Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)-Southern Negros Occidental, said that they have investigated the incident.
He said that molasses is not too hazardous to marine environment, unlike oil. But he said that the company has the responsibility to ensure the total cleanup of the river.