Dumaguete City (CNN Philippines) — Bais City Mayor Merci Goñi claimed that the Ethanol plant located in the city doesn’t have mayor’s permit.
The plant is owned and operated by the Universal Robina Sugar Milling Company (URSUMCO) in Barangay Tamisu, Bais City.
According to the mayor, it has been operating for six months without the necessary occupancy permit, mayor’s permit and other documents like the Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) required by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
Only a building permit has been issued.
The issue came after a letter of complaint from the fisher folks in the coastal community wrote to the Community Environment and Natural Resources (CENRO) who claimed that their daily fish catch average had been severely reduced allegedly due to the liquid wastes from the nearby sugar refinery, URSUMCO, and the ethanol plant.
Mayor Goni said she symphatized with the fisher folks whose sources of livelihood have been unfairly damaged by what is believed to be toxic wastes coming from the industrial plant.
She directed the responsible agencies concerned to make the necessary investigations. A cease and desist order has been requested to stop the operation of the ethanol plant unless the requirements are complied with.
