Bais City placed under state of calamity

DUE TO WATER CONTAMINATION

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The City of Bais has been officially placed under a State of Calamity following the approval of its city council after the massive contamination of coastal waters and the degradation of marine ecosystems in North Bais Bay caused by the spent wash spill from the Universal Robina Corporation (URC) ethanol facility.

The declaration, endorsed by the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) and the City Development Council—Executive Committee, was unanimously approved by the city council on October 30, 2025.

According to the resolution, the wastewater spillage from URC’s ethanol distillery plant on October 24, 2025, resulted in the severe discoloration of North Bais Bay and affected marine life within the Tañon Strait, a protected seascape and major fishing ground.

On October 28, Bais City Mayor Luigi Marcel Goñi ordered the temporary suspension of URC’s operations to prevent further damage to the area’s marine ecosystems. The order will only be lifted once the company submits and implements a verified long-term solution to prevent similar incidents.