A molasses spill from a barge docked at the Old Sagay feeder port in Sagay City, Negros Occidental, had spread over a 1.3 hectare area on Wednesday, August 7.
Sagay City divers on Wednesday were diving beneath the barge, identified as MT Mary Queen of Charity, to determine the cause of the leak, Roberto Togle, Resource Management Section head of the Sagay Marine Reserve, said.
The mahogany colored molasses-hit waters in the Sagay Marine Reserve appeared to be clearing up Wednesday afternoon but they were continuing to monitor the situation, he said.
Togle said molasses delivered by about eight tanker trucks were unloaded into the chamber of the barge Monday and Tuesday.
On Wednesday morning the molasses leak was seen in the waters surrounding the port, Togle said.
They are investigating the cause of the incident and conducting water sampling, he said.
The loading of molasses on the barge has been halted, he said.
The Sagay City government through the Sagay City Environment and Natural Resources Office and the Philippine Coast Guard is conducting an investigation on the molasses spill, a statement from the city government said.
Sagay Mayor Narciso Javelosa Jr. assured that all immediate actions are now being done to minimize the damage from the molasses spill.
No fish kill has been reported in the area.
Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Joan Gerangaya said molasses are biodegradable and not poisonous to fish.
It is even used to make fish feeds, he said.
The PENRO is investigating the spill, Gerangaya said.
The Philippines Coast Guard was also investigating the incident and had directed marine environmental protection unit to conduct water sampling and containment and recovery operations.
About 300 metric tons of molasses had been loaded on the vessel, the PCG was informed.*