Rowegie Abanto

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Negros Oriental

Katrina Domingo

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — Malacañang on Wednesday said that it is reviewing whether cases should be filed against Universal Robina Corporation after wastewater from its distillery in Bais City spilled into nearby bodies of water.</p><p>President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has instructed the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to coordinate with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to respond to the incident and contain the leak, Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro told Palace reporters.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/11/3/manjuyod-bais-city-in-negros-oriental-under-state-of-calamity-due-to-wastewater-spill-1922">Manjuyod, Bais City in Negros Oriental under state of calamity due to wastewater spill</a></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/11/3/urc-says-repairing-quake-damaged-wastewater-facility-that-contaminated-negros-waters-1710">URC says repairing quake-damaged wastewater facility that contaminated Negros waters</a></div><p>“Nagkaroon na rin po ng pakikipag usap sa URC Bais Distillery at kinakailangan po nilang ayusin ito nang maagaran,” she said.</p><p>“Kapag ka po talagang  mayroong  nalabag na batas, hindi po maga-atubili ang gobyerno na magsampa po nang kaso,” she said, noting that the government is reviewing possible violations of Republic Act No. 11038 or the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System Act.</p><p>The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources has informed Negros Oriental residents to avoid fishing and collecting aquatic organisms, like seaweed, in the meantime, to avoid possible health hazards, Castro said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/11/1/low-levels-of-dissolved-oxygen-found-in-areas-affected-by-wastewater-spill-in-negros-oriental-1758">Low levels of dissolved oxygen found in areas affected by wastewater spill in Negros Oriental</a></div><p>The local governments of Bais and Manjuyod in Negros Oriental earlier placed their localities under a state of calamity after the spill contaminated much of their waterways.</p><p>The wastewater leak happened on October 26 and has contaminated some 3,000 hectares of the Tañon Strait Protected Seascape near Bais City and Manjuyod town.</p><p>URC, meanwhile, said its focus is on helping the families affected by the spill, and is working with experts and the DENR to study all options for the rehabilitation of the marine area. </p><p>&quot;The recent result of seawater quality monitoring, which was conducted in collaboration with the Coast Guard, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources–Tañon Strait Protected Seascape (DENR – TSPS) and Siliman University, shows improvement in dissolved oxygen, pH and water color in the affected areas. Marine life has also been observed in the previously discolored areas,&quot; the company said. </p><p>URC said the recent typhoon has delayed the completion of repairs on its containment facility. The Gokongwei-led firm said that due to additional work necessary for reinforcement, the estimated completion of the dike has moved to Nov. 14, to ensure complete sealing. </p>

<p>Malacañang said it is reviewing whether cases should be filed against Universal Robina Corp after wastewater from its distillery in Bais City spilled into nearby bodies of water.</p>

Malacañang said it is reviewing whether cases should be filed against Universal Robina Corp after wastewater from its distillery in Bais City spilled into nearby bodies of water.

Malacanang studying if cases should be filed vs URC over Negros Oriental waste spill

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Malacanang studying if cases should be filed vs URC over Negros Oriental waste spill

Katrina Domingo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Nov 05, 2025 04:15 PM PHT

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Negros Oriental waste spill

Universal Robina Corporation

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