• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
More than 2,500 tons of molasses from the BISCOM sugar manufacturing company have reportedly spilled into a river in Binalbagan, Negros Occidental, leading to a fish kill in one of the four affected barangays of the town.
Forester Lucia Salazar, supervising environment specialist of Community Environment Natural Resources Office (CENRO) – Kabankalan, disclosed on Tuesday that the molasses spill affected barangays of Canmoros, Progreso, Marina, and San Juan, all in Binalbagan town.
Salazar reported fish kills in Brgy. Canmoros, Binalbagan, although he claimed it was minimal.
Because of the intense heat on April 19 that reached 43 degrees centigrade, Salazar said 50 percent of the 4,980 tons of molasses in the BISCOM (Binalbagan Isabela Sugar Company) pond-type stockpile, spilled into the Binalbagan River.
The management of BISCOM, according to Salazar, immediately placed sandbags to prevent the further spillage of molasses into the river and put bio-enzymes to lessen the odor.
Binalbagan Mayor Alejandro Mirasol also disclosed on Tuesday that the molasses spill, estimated at one kilometer long, is now “under control.”
Containment measures have been implemented to limit the spread of the molasses, Mirasol said, stressing that the municipal government, in collaboration with BISCOM and environmental agencies, are actively working on the cleanup and recovery efforts.
Mirasol further said that residents of the affected communities are also joining in the removal of molasses spill in the Binalbagan river.
The mayor, however, said that the sugar milling company will be held liable for the molasses spill, with the penalties to be imposed to be determined by the Environment Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
Salazar said they already took water samples from the Binalbagan River for examination in Iloilo.
While she raised the possibility the water source of residents at the riverbank may be affected, Salazar, however, said that it is safe to consume potable water from deep wells.*
