About 1.3 hectares of the protected area that is the Sagay Marine Reserve has had its pristine waters sullied by an estimated 307 metric tons of molasses that either leaked or spilled from the vessel M/T Mary Queen of Charity at the Sagay feeder port on Wednesday.
The authorities are looking into the negligence of the crew as the cause of the molasses spill, after divers found that its hull was intact and it was compliant with safety regulations. Whatever went wrong might have happened during shore to ship operations, as the viscous liquid was being transferred to the vessel.
The LGU and concerned government agencies claim to have acted swiftly to mitigate the impact of a molasses spill at a marine reserve, but based on the photos, the damage has already been done. Time and tide has also allowed the spill to dissipate, but those accountable must be held responsible and additional measures have to be put in place to prevent future incidents, especially for a city with a port in a marine reserve.
Mayor Narciso Javelosa, Jr. says the operators of the vessel could face penalties ranging from P200,000 to P1 million, for violating the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 2018. Additionally, the LGU is monitoring the situation of the fisherfolk in nearby coastal communities.
The Sagay Marine Reserve, established in 1999 and the largest marine reserve in the country, is one of the jewels of Northern Negros. It has not only garnered awards for protecting and rehabilitating the marine ecosystem in the area, but it has also improved the livelihood of fisherfolk and advanced tourism.
This molasses spill, which could possibly be the most significant threat to the SMR since it was created, should serve as a grim reminder of how easy it is to undo years of hard work, and how difficult it is to recover from such environmentally destructive incidents which could’ve been avoided, had everyone involved not become complacent and let their guard down.
As we hope that the damage is minimal and recovery quick, we also pray that the stakeholders have learned their lessons, from the private sector to all levels of government, and will continue to work together, with increased vigilance, accountability, and a sense of stewardship, especially where there are commercial and industrial operations when a small mistake can lead to massive and irreversible destruction of the environment that had been successfully protected.*
