Ethanol plant spills harmful wastewater into Philippine marine reserve

A chemical spill from an ethanol distillery has endangered one of the Philippines’ largest marine protected areas. On October 24, the retaining wall of a wastewater pond at an ethanol plant collapsed, releasing approximately 255,000 cubic meters (67 million gallons) of wastewater into Bais Bay in the central Philippines, according to the Bais City government.

The facility is owned by Universal Robina Corporation (URC), a major Philippine food and beverage company. Bais Bay is part of the Tañon Strait Protected Seascape (TSPS), a narrow waterway separating the islands of Negros and Cebu.

Ecological significance of Tañon Strait

The Tañon Strait hosts around 14 species of whales and dolphins, including the Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncus) and the short-finned pilot whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus). Its ecosystem supports mangrove forests, coral reefs, and various marine life, serving as a vital fishing ground and eco-tourism destination.

“The beauty, bounty, and ecological integrity of Tañon Strait is under active threat of being adversely impacted by this negligent act,” marine conservation nonprofit Oceana said in a statement.

Potential environmental impact

Experts warn that the spill may cause lasting damage to local biodiversity and livelihoods dependent on marine resources. Cleanup operations and assessments are ongoing as authorities work to contain the contamination and evaluate its full consequences.

Author’s Summary: A wastewater spill from a URC ethanol plant has polluted Bais Bay, threatening the biodiversity and ecological balance of the Tañon Strait Protected Seascape.

Mongabay — 2025-11-06