pn-ecology: Principe recommends closure of three alcohol firms in Batangas
Balita News
By Lilybeth G. Ison
MANILA, Mar. 19 (PNA) -- Region IV Director Antonio Principe of
the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) today
recommended for the closure of three alcohol firms located in Nasugbu
and Lian, Batangas.
Principe recommended closure of Dyzum, Absolut and Consolidated
Distilleries for at least one year or until such time all the said
distilleries had improved or rehabilitated their wastewater lagoons.
He also recommended the immediate stoppage of operation of Central
Azucarera de Don Pedro (CADP) for allegedly discharging "hot" cooling
water which increases the temperature of the Palico River.
The DENR conducted water sample testing of the Palico-Lian River
due to the fishkill. Based on the water sample tests, it revealed that
Palico River which receives wastewater discharges from Consolidated,
Absolut and CADP, and the Bagbag River which is adjacent to Dyzum showed
a very minimal amount of dissolved oxygen which is essential to the
sustenance of aquatic life.
Furthermore, the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) of both rivers is
way beyond the DENR standard of 7 mg/liter for Class C river.
The DENR team also noted that the 24-hour operation of CADP raises
the temperature of Palico River to more than three degrees centigrade
standard which further reduces the dissolved oxygen content of the
river.
The team also observed that Consolidated is discharging blackish
colored water from its outfall. Principe said it appears that
Consolidated is violating the DENR instruction not to discharge
wastewater or slops directly into the river.
Palico River and Bagbag River can best be described as
biologically dead river because of the pollution brought about by the
periodic discharge of wastewater from the distillery plants for the past
10 years; operation of garbage dumpsite of the municipality of Lian,
Batangas by the riverside; and constant heating of the water body.
Earlier, fishkills had occurred mostly at the mouth of Palico and
Bagbag Rivers. Migratory fishes entered the two rivers during high
tides. However, during low tides, the fishes are simply trapped and die
at the mouth of the river where these three alcohol firms and CADP are
discharging their wastewater.
Principe said it is not remote that another fish kill will occur
in the near future even if the distillery plants and sugar refinery are
temporarily closed. The rivers are simply polluted as evidenced by very
low dissolved oxygen, high BOD concentration, and high water
temperature.
"There is a need to put the river to a rest. Hence the
recommendation to momentarily stop the operations of all plants for at
least one year," he concluded. (PNA) fpv/LGI
PNA 03191738