• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Legal action is being eyed against the Victorias Milling Company (VMC) for the spillage of molasses into a river, which is seen as the cause of a strong foul odor that has for more than two weeks, affected residents of 11 barangays in Victorias City, Negros Occidental.
Affected residents of Victorias City may also have to endure the rancid odor for another month and a week for the stench to be completely addressed, as estimated by representatives of VMC who attended the inquiry initiated by the Sangguniang Panlungsod yesterday.
“I don’t think the people can wait that long. That is unacceptable to Victoriahanons,” Councilor Dino Acuña, chair of the committee Natural Resources and Environmental Protection, stressed.
During the inquiry, it was found out that about three metric tons, which Acuña said is equivalent to 1.8 million liters of molasses, spilled into the Malihaw River, as admitted by VMC representatives.
Acuna said he will be filing resolutions during their regular session on Monday next week, which will ask the City Legal Office to study possible legal action against VMC for violation of Clean Air and Water Act, and environmental code ordinance of the Victorias City, among other environmental related laws.
He added that he will request the executive department to come up with agreement with VMC, requiring that all mitigating measures they will implement to avoid similar incidents, will be put into writing.
As a stopgap measure, VMC increased the dosage of enzymes being put into the water treatment facility where the spilled molasses that they were able recover the river is stored, to address the foul odor.
While VMC extended assistance to 200 affected families in coastal Brgy. 6A, Eric Arcobilla, barangay 13 chairman, complained that them and Brgy. 9, whose residents were also much affected by the rancid odor, were bypassed by VMC.
Other affected barangays are located in the poblacion of Victorias City, Acuña said.
Affected residents, especially those with family members suffering asthma, also aired their disgust against VMC in social media, by slamming the company for repeated mistakes.
In a statement, VMC said it immediately set in motion its standard operating measures to address the concerns of Victorias City residents.
We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience this may have caused, VMC said, as the management made assurances of their continuing commitment to protect the environment and the community.
The molasses spillage took place on May 5, after a 10,000 metric ton capacity molasses tank of the VMC exploded, and its contents spilled into the Malihaw River, according to the initial investigation of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.
VMC representatives, however clarified that not all the molasses spilled into the Malihaw River.
While similar incidents were experienced in the past, Acuña described the latest incident as “much worse.”
VMC representative Ellaine Muhal told members of the City Council that their company is doing its utmost best to fully resolve the issue, as soon as possible.
While there is still an odor, it is not strong as before, Muhal added.
Councilor Derek Palanca stressed the need for VMC to be “proactive and not always reactive,” every time they are confronted with environmental issues.*
