BACOLOD City – The Environmental Management Bureau(EMB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources(DENR) Region 6 has ordered a sugar firm based in Binalbagan, Negros Occidental to stop discharging molasses in its perimeter canal which ultimately leads to the Binalagan River.
An interim cease and desist order (CDO) was issued by EMB following its investigation on April 21 at Binalbagan Isabela Sugar Company (Biscom) after the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported of molasses spillage on April 19 from the facility of the said company.
Lawyer Wilma Lagance, chief of the Legal Section of EMB-6, said the CDO was served to Biscom on April 22. The two-page order dated April 22, 2025 was signed by Atty. Ramar Mel Pascua, regional director of EMB-6.
“Since it is only an interim CDO, the lifespan of this is only seven days unless confirmed by the Pollution Adjudication Board (PAB) or the secretary. In such a case, the interim CDO shall become a regular CDO,” explained Lagance.
She added that the CDO only refrained the sugar company from discharging molasses in its perimeter canal, but its business operation is ongoing.
Pursuant to Section 1 , Rule V of PAB Resolution No 2021-04, an interim CDO may be immediately issued where there is prima facie evidence that the emission of discharge of pollutants constitutes an immediate threat to public health, safety or welfare, or to animal or plant life, or greatly exceeds the allowable DENR Standards.
“The discharge from the facility, together with the continued operations of Biscom and its reliance on a temporary molasses pond with unverified storage capacity pose an imminent and substantial threat to the Binalbagan River,” the order stated.
These circumstances, Pascua said, necessitate immediate action to prevent further environmental harm.
It was reported earlier that the molasses overflowed from the Molasses Pond 2A/2B into the storm drain.
The storm drain is connected to the community canal, which ultimately discharges into the Binalbagan River via Sitio Torres, Barangay Progreso outfall.
The said pond has a total holding capacity of 6,000 tons. Prior to the incident, it contained approximately 4,980 tons of molasses, and after the spill, only 2,400 tons remained.
“According to the incident report submitted by the Biscom 2,570 tons were recovered while the estimated loss was only 10 tons. However, these figures are still subject to verification,” read part of the order.
To contain the spill, the sugar company implemented mitigating measures such as redirecting the overflowing molasses into the adjacent ash canal system and installing sandbags along the perimeter canal to prevent further flow into the community canal.
Despite these actions, portions of the molasses were still observed flowing into the storm drain, said Pascua.
At the time of the investigation, the sugar mill was operational and continuously producing molasses, which were stored in its molasses ponds.
Due to the current limited capacity the Biscom built a temporary pond with an unverified capacity to serve as an additional holding area for its molasses.
Meanwhile, as the investigating team was collecting samples at the Binalbagan River and Biscom perimeter canal, it was observed to have distinct foam and brownish coloration, indicative of contamination.
The EMB said discoloration of the river and increase in organic load correlate with reduced dissolved oxygen concentration. Such reduction of dissolved oxygen levels in turn may potentially cause fish kill and mortality among other aquatic organisms.
