The Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) called for the immediate payment of subsidies to fisherfolk affected by the ethanol spill in Negros Oriental and Cebu.
“Tiyak na hindi kaagad makakabalik sa kabuhayan ang mga mangingisda ng Negros Oriental at ilang bayan sa Cebu, hangga’t hindi tuluyang naaapula ang tumagas na kemikal,” Pamalakaya vice president Ronnel Arambulo told Kodao.
The progressive federation of fisherfolk made the appeal as the Environment Management Bureau-Negros Island Region (EMB-NIR) reported that the effects of the waste spill widened from 3,000 hectares from an initial estimate of 400 hectares.
The number of affected barangays in Bais City and Manjuyod also increased from an initial of eight barangays to 17.
WHAT WENT BEFORE:
Ethanol spill threatens livelihood, dolphins on Tañon Straight, group warns
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in Central Visayas has also advised against the consumption of shellfishes and dead fishes found floating in the affected areas.
A wastewater dike belonging to Universal Robina Corporation’s (URC) distillery in Bais City collapsed last October 24 the company said resulted from incessant rains.
The dike was also weakened by the 6.9 magnitude earthquake last September 30, it explained.
URC manufactures fuel-grade ethanol for companies such as Flying V and consumer-grade rubbing alcohol under the brands Biosure and Shield.
The local government of Bais City reported that the livelihood of more than 3,000 fisherfolk is being affected while nearly 900 families are impacted in Manjuyod.
Negros Oriental provincial agriculturist Emmanuel Caduyac reported mass fish kills in aquaculture ponds near the distillery.
“All the ponds are already contaminated and we see frequent floating of tilapias,” said Caduyac.
Around 60,000 bangus fry were stocked in three ponds. So far, 10,000 have already died, and mortality continues to rise, the Philippine Star reported.
“Kaya dapat mayroong konkretong aksyon ang lokal na pamahalaan at mga pambansang ahensya para tugunan ang mga apektadong mangingisda,” Arambulo said.
He said Pamalakaya is gathering more data from its chapters in Negros Oriental and Cebu. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)
