• GILBERT P. BAYORAN

A molasses spill from a barge docked at the feeder port of Barangay Old Sagay in Sagay City, Negros Occidental, was reported to have spread over an estimated 1.3 hectares of the marine reserve area multi-purpose zone.
Initial investigation of the Sagay City government disclosed that feeder port personnel observed the discoloration of waters surrounding M/T Mary Queen of Charity at the Sagay City port, at about 9 a.m. yesterday.
The molasses spill allegedly occurred while the vessel was conducting shore to ship operations, with trucks loading the molasses into the barge, according to an initial report of the Sagay City government.
Based on the report of vessel Chief Mate Rene Malayang, about 307 metric tons of molasses was loaded to the barge chamber by lorry truck.
The loading of molasses was immediately halted, upon discovery of the spill, as divers were immediately dispatched to check and assess the reported leakage.
While the leak was initially considered alarming because of its thickness yesterday morning, Roberto Togle, Sagay Marine Reserve Resource Assessment head, however said it became thinner in the afternoon.
The volume of molasses spilled into the port is yet to be determined as of press time.
But Togle said they are closely monitoring the waters in the area, while the investigation is underway.
Mayor Narciso Javelosa Jr. assured that all immediate actions are being done to minimize the damage of the molasses spill.
The Philippine Coast Guard is also investigating the incident.
Togle said representatives of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Environment Management Bureau are arriving today for water sampling analysis.
The Sagay City feeder port, which is a multi-use zone, according to him, forms part of the 32,000 hectare Sagay Marine Reserve area.*