DENR plans legal actions; URC assures assistance

The incident has since contaminated approximately 382.29 hectares of marine areas across 13 barangays within the Tafion Strait Protected Seascape (TSPS).

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Following the breach, the DENR convened an emergency technical conference with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and local government units (LGUs) to coordinate containment and cleanup operations.

DENR Regional Offices from Central Visayas and the Negros Island Region (NIR) have conducted onsite inspections and continue to monitor repair efforts at the site.

Containment measures are underway, assisted by the Coast Guard, LGUs, and URC’s technical teams.

URC officials assured authorities that repair works on the damaged dike are 60 percent complete, with full restoration targeted for November 4, 2025.

Reinforcements using rubber tires and boulders are being installed to prevent future breaches.

In coordination with the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), the DENR has issued advisories prohibiting fishing and seafood collection in affected areas until water quality returns to safe levels.

To guide rehabilitation, a multi-agency scientific team will be formed, composed of experts from the DENR, the EMB, the Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB), the BFAR, the Protected Area Management Office (PAMO), LGUs, and partner universities such as Silliman University.

The team will undertake hydrodynamic modeling, water testing, and environmental impact assessments.