Negligence by the crew in the loading of molasses on to a barge docked at the Old Sagay Feeder Port may have caused the molasses spill at the Sagay Marine Reserve, a statement from the Sagay City government in Negros Occidental said Thursday, August 8.
Initial inspection by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has confirmed that M/T Mary Queen of Charity is compliant with safety regulations and that its hull is intact. However, there are indications of possible negligence by the crew during the loading and transfer of the molasses, which is under thorough investigation, the statement said.
The operator of the M/T Mary Queen of Charity may face penalties ranging from P200,000 to P1 million for violating the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System (ENIPAS) Act of 2018, it added.
Sagay Mayor Narciso Javelosa said that the city government is committed to holding those responsible accountable and is exploring additional measures to prevent future incidents.
The molasses spill that hit an about 1.3 hectare area in the Sagay Marine Reserve on Wednesday was clearing up and did not cause damage to the environment and marine life, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Joan Nathaniel Gerangaya said on Thursday.
The molasses spill that hit about 1.3 hectares of the Sagay Marine Reserve on Wednesday was clearing up and did not cause damage to the environment and marine life, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Joan Nathaniel Gerangaya said on Thursday.The molasses from Lopez Sugar Central was to be transported to Manila, he said.
The molasses that is biodegradable was diluting, he said.
Roberto Togle, Resource Management Section head of the Sagay Marine Reserve, said an investigation shows that there was no leak in the chamber of the MT Mary Queen of Charity where the molasses was loaded.
Gerangaya and Togle also said it is possible that the molasses spill may have occurred during the loading of the molasses from a tanker truck to the vessel.
There has been no additional molasses spill since Wednesday, Togle said.
They are just waiting for the tests results of the water samples they took that could be out in seven days, Togle said.
The Sagay City government, in collaboration with various agencies, has swiftly mobilized efforts to mitigate the impact of a molasses spill, its press statement said.
Javelosa assured the public that the city government, together with the PCG, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, the provincial and city Environment and Natural Resources Offices, and the PNP Maritime Group, have been monitoring the situation since the incident occurred.
“Our goal is to ensure the safety of our marine environment and the well-being of our people. We are working tirelessly to address this issue and prevent any long-term damage,” Javelosa added.*