Bais city: The operations of Universal Robina Corp. (URC) Bais Distillery in Bais City, Negros Oriental, remain suspended until the Environmental Management Bureau - Pollution Adjudication Board (EMB-PAB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) lifts its suspension order, an official said on Wednesday.

According to Philippines News Agency, DENR-Negros Island Region (NIR) Executive Director Charlie Fabre stated that the Pollution Adjudication Board (PAB) holds the authority to determine whether the distillery can resume operations. Fabre noted that URC has appealed to the PAB to lift the suspension order against the Bais Distillery, which is currently under review.

Fabre elaborated that DENR Secretary Raphael Lotilla inquired about the status of the URC wastewater spill after the company directly filed their appeal at the DENR Central Office in Manila. The PAB is assessing whether to lift the suspension with potential penalties. Until the decision is made, the distillery cannot operate, as doing so without clearance may result in additional violations.

The distillery was shut down approximately a month-and-a-half ago after a significant volume of spent wash spilled into the Ta±on Strait due to a breach in the containment lagoon wall on October 26. This environmental incident led to water discoloration, fish kills, coral damage, and disruption to the livelihoods of thousands of residents and businesses reliant on the sea.

URC has extended livelihood assistance to those affected by the spill and is collaborating with government agencies and private entities to address the damage. Simultaneously, the Bais City Prosecutor's Office initiated a preliminary investigation into a complaint filed by the Ta±on Strait Protected Seascape against the distillery concerning the wastewater spillage.

The complaint, lodged on November 21, cites violations of Republic Act 11038, known as the Expanded NIPAS (National Integrated Protected Area System) Act of 2018, which includes operating without a permit and discharging wastewater into the Ta±on Strait without a Special Use Agreement in Protected Areas (SAPA).

Furthermore, Fabre noted that recent water analysis by EMB-NIR indicated high levels of dissolved oxygen (DOD) in the affected area, a crucial indicator of marine life quality, which had initially plummeted following the spill. An assessment of coral damage in the spill area is ongoing.