Caritas Philippines sounds alarm over wastewater spill in Tañon Strait

Caritas Philippines (Screenshot from Caritas Philippines Facebook page) MANILA, Philippines — Caritas Philippines expressed alarm over the “wastewater spill that has affected” the Tañon Strait Protected Landscape between the islands of Cebu and Negros. One of the largest marine protected areas in the Philippines, the strait serves as a feeding, breeding and nesting ground for marine mammals, and is known for its diversity of fish, mollusks and crustaceans. However, scientific research revealed that almost seven out of every ten surveyed corals in Bais Bay, on the southeastern coast of Negros, have already died following last year’s molasses-laden wastewater spill. Article continues after this advertisement READ: Waste spill hits protected seas in Negros Oriental For the social action arm of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), the latest scientific findings were not simply an environmental statistic but a “profound moral concern.” “Coral reefs are among God’s most beautiful and life-giving creations. They nourish fisheries, protect our coastlines, sustain countless marine species, and provide livelihood for thousands of coastal families,” San Carlos Bishop and Caritas Philippines President Gerardo Alminaza said. As he pointed out, when corals die, “creation itself cries out, and so do the poor whose lives depend upon healthy seas.” “The Tañon Strait is not merely a body of water separating Negros and Cebu. It is a shared gift entrusted to us by the Creator, a sanctuary of extraordinary marine biodiversity, and a sacred inheritance that belongs not only to our generation but also to those yet to come,” he said. Article continues after this advertisement The bishop asked agencies to act with urgency, transparency and accountability, as he thanked scientists, marine researchers, fishers and concerned citizens who monitored the ecological tragedy and spoke the truth with courage. “If ongoing pollution is indeed continuing, every necessary legal and regulatory measure must be taken immediately to stop further damage, determine responsibility, ensure full compliance with environmental laws, and require the restoration of affected ecosystems,” he said. Article continues after this advertisement Alminza pointed out that everthing should be based on the “polluter pays” principle embodied in the country’s laws and regulations. Last year, on Oct. 27, a section of a 20-hectare lagoon wall at Universal Robina Corporation’s distillery collapsed, releasing spent molasses wastewater into the sea. READ: Oceana: Hold firm accountable for Tañon Strait ethanol spill Around 6,000 hectares of marine and coastal waters of the Tañon Strait Protected Seascape were affected by the breach that was said to have been triggered by earthquake-induced cracks and exacerbated by heavy rains. READ: ‘Spent wash’ smears 6,000 hectares of Tañon Strait Alminaza appealed to all industries operating in or close to ecologically sensitive areas to recognize that economic activity can never be separated from moral responsibility. “Genuine development must always respect the integrity of creation and the dignity of the communities whose lives depend upon it,” he said. “May this painful moment awaken not only stronger environmental enforcement but also a deeper ecological conversion,” he noted. “We are called not merely to restore what has already been damaged, but to prevent further destruction while there is still time,” he added. For the bishop leading one of the four dioceses in Negros, “the true measure of our progress is not how much wealth we extract from creation, but how faithfully we safeguard the gift that God has entrusted to us.” The next generations, he said, “will judge us not by our intentions, but by the seas, forests and communities we leave behind.” /apl Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again. Your subscription has been successful.