EMB Issues 7-Day CDO to Sugar Mill After Spill

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY – The Environmental Management Bureau (EMB)-6 has issued a seven-day cease and desist order (CDO) to the Binalbagan-Isabela Sugar Company (BISCOM) in Binalbagan, Negros Occidental, prohibiting the discharge of molasses from its perimeter canal into the Binalbagan River.

Lawyer Wilma Lagance, EMB-6 chief legal officer, said in a media interview Thursday that they personally served the order on Wednesday, one day after issuing it to BISCOM via email.

Lagance said the interim CDO is valid for seven days unless confirmed by the Pollution Adjudication Board, in which case it will be converted into a regular order.

Before the CDO, EMB-6 issued a notice of violation against BISCOM for the illegal discharge of molasses that contaminated a nearby water body.

According to the order, the incident occurred on April 19 when molasses overflowed from pond 2A/2B into a storm drain connected to the community canal that discharges into the Binalbagan River through Sitio Torres, Barangay Progreso.

The molasses pond has a total capacity of 6,000 tons and contained about 4,980 tons before the incident.

After the spill, only 2,400 tons remained, with 2,570 tons reportedly recovered and 10 tons estimated lost, though these figures are still being verified.

To contain the spill, BISCOM redirected the overflow to an adjacent ash canal and installed sandbags along the perimeter canal, but EMB-6 observed that some molasses still flowed into the storm drain.

At the time of the investigation, the sugar mill remained operational and continued producing molasses stored in ponds with limited capacity.

BISCOM built a temporary pond with an unverified storage capacity to manage the overflow.

Investigators collected water samples from the Binalbagan River at Sitio Torres, Barangay Progreso outfall, Barangay Canmoros, Taytay Loreto, and BISCOM’s perimeter canal.

They observed foam and brown discoloration in the river, indicating contamination.

The discoloration and increased organic load correlate with reduced dissolved oxygen levels, which could lead to fish kills and other harm to aquatic life.

Under Section and Rule V of PAB Resolution No. 2021-04, EMB-6 may issue an interim CDO when pollutant discharge poses an immediate threat to life, public health, or the environment.

EMB-6 said the ongoing discharge, continued operations, and reliance on a temporary pond with unknown capacity pose a substantial threat to the river, requiring urgent action.

Lagance said BISCOM operations continue except for the discharge of molasses from its stockpile to prevent further overflow from its perimeter canal into Barangay San Vicente’s drainage canal.

She emphasized that discharging molasses into the river is prohibited.

BISCOM claimed the incident was triggered by extreme heat on April 19, which reached a heat index of 43°C.

Barangays San Juan, Canmoros, Marina, and Progreso were affected by the spill, with a fish kill reported in Barangay Canmoros.

Mayor Alejandro Mirasol earlier assured residents that cleanup and recovery efforts are underway.

As of April 24, the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office reported an improvement in river conditions, with the affected area reduced from about 203 hectares as of April 21.

In a statement sent to Mirasol via email, BISCOM apologized to those affected and committed to urgent cleanup efforts.

BISCOM said it acted quickly to contain the spill and has since coordinated with authorities to implement a comprehensive response.

Following its internal probe, the company attributed the spill to a Maillard reaction – a chemical process involving heat, amino acids, and reducing sugars – which led to increased pressure and overflow from its storage tanks.

In coordination with barangay captains and partner agencies, BISCOM has begun intercepting foam in the river, applying biodegradable chemicals to neutralize odor, conducting river monitoring, and deploying additional manpower from the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office.

The company said it remains transparent and accountable to affected communities and stakeholders.

It added that it is committed to minimizing the spill’s environmental impact and ensuring full remediation of the affected areas.

BISCOM also expressed gratitude to the local government, barangay captains, and partner agencies for their cooperation.