Bais City Mayor Luigi Marcel Goñi presided a virtual meeting with representatives of a distillery company on Wednesday, October 29, 2025 on the ethanol leak that has affected at least 10 (ten) coastal barangays. 

According to Bais City Public Information Office (PIO), members of the City Council, department heads from both local and national agencies, Atty. Romela Mae Napao, city administrator; Atty. Lloyd Jeson Elmaco, city legal officer; and officers of various civil society organizations in Bais City, Province of Negros Oriental joined the meeting.

“This meeting is held in connection with the collapsed dike of URC’s settling pond in North Bais Bay, Negros Oriental,” Bais City PIO said.

During the meeting, the Local Government Unit of Bais City requested URC, the ethanol distillery company, to “collect the dead fish and other aquaculture affected in North Bais Bay.”

At least 10 (ten) coastal barangays in Bais have been affected. These are Tamisu, Katacgahan, Biñohon, San Isidro, Tangculogan, Talungon, Olympia, Okiot, Capiñahan, and Looc.

“URC 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,” Bais City PIO added.

The ethanol distillery company has admitted that the leak occurred on October 24, 2025 in one of its containment facilities which caused the discoloration of seawater in the vicinity, according to a post of Bais Public Information Office on October 27, 2025.

This was also confirmed by Engr. Roseller Lobaton, head of Bais City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office on Tuesday, October 28, 2025 to GMA Regional TV News.

Goñi ordered the ethanol distillery plant on October 28, 2025 to stop operations immediately to prevent further damage to the marine ecosystem in Bais City and adjacent towns situated along Tañon Strait, deemed the largest protected seascape in the Philippines.

The mayor also suspended all trips to the sand bar, dolphin watching, and swimming activities in the city shores and coastline, following the leak.

Further, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources 7 has advised the public in affected areas in Bais City and adjacent Municipality of Manjuyod to refrain from fishing, collecting, and gathering aquatic organisms, such as but not limited to finfish, crustaceans, and seaweeds, following the ethanol leak.