It has been nine months since a catastrophic dike collapse at Universal Robina Corporation’s (URC) distillery in Bais City released untreated wastewater and hazardous chemicals into the Tañon Strait. Despite the company’s claims that leaks have been addressed, local fishermen report that reddish, contaminated water continues to seep from the facility’s holding lagoons. The environmental fallout has been devastating, impacting over 3,000 families in Bais City and nearly 900 in neighboring Manjuyod. With mass fish kills in aquaculture ponds and the public refusing to purchase local catches, these families have been stripped of their primary source of income, forcing many children to drop out of school.

The ecological toll on the Tañon Strait, a critical habitat for whales and dolphins, is equally grim. Marine scientists from Silliman University have documented significant degradation, noting that up to 69 percent of coral reefs in the affected areas have perished. Experts warn that the ongoing discharge creates a toxic environment where algae blooms suffocate essential marine life by depleting oxygen levels. As environmental groups and local advocacy organizations demand full accountability and financial restitution for the damaged ecosystem, the government remains noticeably silent, failing to provide updates on official investigations or the status of lawsuits filed against the corporation.