November 5, 2025 · An ethanol distillery, owned by Universal Robina Corporation (URC), spilled 255,000 cubic meters (67 million gallons) of wastewater into Bais Bay due to a collapsed wall, as confirmed by the Bais City government. As part of the Tañon Strait Protected Seascape (TSPS), Bais Bay is home to diverse species and habitats, including mangrove forests and coral reefs, Mongabay reported.
DENR-EMB Assistant Director Maria Dorica Naz-Hipe said that an estimated 3,000 fisherfolk were affected after they were prohibited from fishing, as well as 17 neighboring coastal villages. She stressed that URC should compensate the affected parties for environmental damage and livelihood disturbance. Fishing, swimming, and other coastal activities, including tourism initiatives, are suspended until discoloration is no longer visible.
The Bais City government has since declared a state of calamity through Resolution No. 960-25. Meanwhile, URC has stopped operations in the area following a cease-and-desist order from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and is focusing on the community’s rehabilitation.
A disclosure by URC to the Philippine Stock Exchange specified that 127 personnel and 20 Coast Guard members are working together to repair the collapsed wall.
