Negros Occidental molasses spill spreads

INQUIRER FILES

BACOLOD CITY — A molasses spill from a barge docked at the old Sagay feeder port in Sagay City, Negros Occidental had spread over a 1.3-hectares area on Wednesday, August 7.

Sagay City divers on Wednesday were diving beneath the MT Mary Queen of Charity to find ways to plug the leak, said Roberto Togle, resource management section head of the Sagay Marine Reserve.

He said about eight tanker trucks of molasses were loaded into the chamber of the barge from Monday and Tuesday.

On Wednesday, the molasses leak was seen in the water surrounding the port.

Togle said they are investigating the cause of the incident and conducting water sampling.

“The loading of molasses on the barge has been halted,” he added.

The Sagay City Environment and Natural Resources Office and the Philippine Coast Guard are investigating the molasses spill, a statement from the city government reads.

Sagay Mayor Narciso Javelosa Jr. assured residents that all immediate actions are now being taken to minimize the damage.

No fish kill has been reported in the area.

Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Joan Gerangaya said molasses is biodegradable and is not poisonous to fish.

“It is even used to make animal feeds,” Gerangaya said.