Chemical spill hits North Bais Bay in Negros Oriental – Bais City LGU

A chemical spill hit North Bais Bay in Bais City, Negros Oriental and affected 10 nearby barangays after the collapse of a dike of a food manufacturing company, the Bais City government said on Wednesday.

The Bais City government said the affected coastal barangays are:

• Tamisu
• Katacgahan
• Biñohon
• San Isidro
• Tangculogan
• Talungon
• Olympia
• Okiot
• Capiñahan
• Looc

In a separate statement, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources warned that the ethanol spill “poses potential risks to marine biodiversity, fisheries, and local livelihoods.”

The Bais City government said the concerned company’s ethanol distillery plant said the chemical leak happened on Oct. 24 in one of its containment facilities, causing the discoloration of seawater. Dead fish was also observed in the area.

The Bais City government has ordered the affected ethanol distillery plant to stop its operations.

Activities such as going to the sand bar, dolphin watching, and swimming along the shore and coastline were also suspended due to the chemical leak.

The Bais City government said the concerned company is now “undertaking rehabilitation of the affected lagoon and has committed to provide financial assistance to the affected fisherfolk from both Bais City and Manjuyod.”

At least 6,594 family food packs have been distributed to the affected families, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said, adding it continues to work closely with local authorities to ensure the delivery of necessary assistance.

Protected area

The DENR said that the Tañon Strait Protected Seascape is within Bais Bay.

An initial assessment confirmed that the dike of the company’s Lagoon 6 settling pond collapsed, releasing approximately up to 90% of its spent wash content into nearby waters, the DENR said.

“This resulted in visible discoloration in North Bais Bay and poses potential risks to marine biodiversity, fisheries, and local livelihoods,” it said.

“Approximately 382.3 hectares of coastal and marine area are believed to be potentially affected based on preliminary findings,” the DENR added.

Records showed that the dike was constructed prior to the issuance of Presidential Proclamation 1234 that declared the Tañon Strait as a protected area. It was also built before the enactment of the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 2018.

The facility was rented by the concerned company, the DENR said.

The DENR said it issued an interim cease and desist order and a second notice of violation to the company on Monday for illegal wastewater discharge and maintaining a structure without prior Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) clearance. 

“These actions complement the Stop Operations Order earlier issued by LGU Bais and the Stop Tourism Activities in the Manjuyod Sandbar by LGU Manjuyod,” the DENR said.

The first notice of violation was issued to the concerned company on June 3, 2025. 

“The DENR is also working closely with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), the PAMB, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and the LGUs of Bais and Manjuyod to contain the spill, assess the extent of the damage, and safeguard the marine habitats in Tañon Strait,” it added. — JMA/VBL, GMA Integrated News