The Victorias Sangguniang Panlungsod passed three resolutions on Monday, May 29, that aim to seek help from the offices of Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez and Environment Secretary Ma. Antonia Loyzaga in concretizing the mitigating measures of Victorias Milling Company against the molasses spillage that resulted in the emission of foul odor in 11 barangays of the city.
Resolution No. 235 calls on the city executive department under Benitez to forge a memorandum of agreement with VMC for their rehabilitative actions to address the spillage, Resolution No. 236 asks the city legal office to explore, study, and recommend possible legal actions and remedies related to the incident, and Resolution No. 238 seeks the assistance of Loyzaga through the Environment Management Bureau to address the problem.
Councilor Dino Acuña, chairperson of the SP committee on natural resources, environmental protection, and ecology, told DIGICAST NEGROS that these resolutions seek to further clarity the situation that led to the incident and for VMC to implement what it had promised.
He believes that an investigation should be pursued, especially on the situation prior to the incident, as there may have been possible negligence, Acuña said.
“We are looking at the welfare of the people and we feel like the intervention of the national agency is a must as something needs to be given attention,” he said.
Acuña authored the three resolutions.
Resolution No. 238 stated that the city is seeking immediate assistance from the DENR-EMB, the agency tasked with safeguarding the environment, as the foul odor has exposed them “to possible pulmonary and other damaging health risks.”
The resolutions were also one of the actions taken by the Sanggunian after their legislative inquiry with the officials of VMC last week.
Their inquiry revealed that about 3,000 cubic meters of molasses spilled into the Malihaw River but was immediately salvaged and transferred to the wastewater treatment facility of the sugar refinery.
However, the spilled molasses from the Malihaw River overwhelmed the VMC wastewater treatment facility, causing the emission of the foul smell, the councilor said earlier.*