Ethanol spill in Tañon Strait destroys fishing, tourism

"The suspension of all trips going to Sand Bar, Dolphin Watching, and swimming activities in the city shores and coastlines is to ensure the safety of the public as well as our boat crew and operators," the order stated.

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The local government of Manjuyod also ordered the temporary suspension of all tourism activities and directed URC to immediately implement containment and cleanup measures.

ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTER

An estimated 400 hectares of the Tañon Strait, the country's largest marine protected area that separates the islands of Negros and Cebu, have been affected.

The Tañon Strait Protected Seascape (TSPS) covers about 521,000 hectares, declared under Presidential Proclamation No. 1234 in 1998.

Among the most heavily affected areas are Bais City and the Manjuyod Sandbar, known as the "Maldives of the Philippines," where residents reported water discoloration and dead fish washing ashore, prompting the Office of the President to request for a comprehensive report on the incident.

In a statement, URC said a series of earthquakes and heavy rains damaged their containment pond, causing the leak. The spill has disrupted fishing and tourism, affecting the livelihoods of residents and businesses dependent on marine resources.

Goñi said monitoring continues as the number of affected barangays may rise from eight to thirteen once assessments are completed.

"We're still verifying the total coverage of the spill. As of now, eight barangays are affected, but it could reach 13," he said in an interview with Brigada News FM yesterday (October 29).