WATER samples taken from portions of rivers in Pontevedra town where a fishkill incident was reported recently are above the standard limits for various substances.
This was the result of the laboratory test conducted by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in Western Visayas.
Teody Sayson, supervising agriculturist of the Municipal Government of Pontevedra, Wednesday, May 23 told SunStar Bacolod that laboratory results from water samples collected did not meet the standard limits for ammonia, dissolved oxygen, and nitrite.
Sayson said the standards are provided by Department Administrative Order 2016-08, or the Water Quality Guidelines and Water Effluent Standards.
"If standards are not met, this means that concentration in the water is very high that can cause the death of marine animals like fish," he added.
On May 8, a fishkill incident was reported after a dam of the sugar milling plant Central Azucarera de la Carlota Inc. (Caci) in Barangay Nagasi of neighboring La Carlota City collapsed and reportedly spilled over wastewater.
The following day, the BFAR along with other agencies like the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environment Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) in Western Visayas conducted the water sampling from downstream to upstream areas.
The water sampling areas include reclamation, Barangay 1 and San Juan, Overflow Bridge, Candaguit Bridge, and Caci's dam.
Upon conducting the inspection, the DENR-EMB saw some possible manifestations of pollution including discoloration of water and existence of dead fish in the river.
Caci, in a statement, said the management is looking into the incident that apparently caused the break of the southern wall of its one dam.
As a result of the collapse, water from the first dam spilled over to the second dam, it added.
A memorandum issued by the BFAR on May 18, a copy of which was obtained by the Municipal Government of Pontevedra yesterday stated that quality of water samples "could lead to toxic build up in internal tissues and blood of fishes."
Given the results of the laboratory test, the municipal government's immediate action is to submit a copy of which along with the complete report of the fishkill incident to the DENR, particularly to Secretary Roy Cimatu.
Sayson said they will also furnished other agencies like the BFAR, Department of Agriculture and National Irrigation Administration as well as La Carlota City Government and Office of the Governor.
Sayson said the local government's position is to oblige Caci to completely "fix" its dam before they can operate.
“Caci has liability on the fishkill incident," he said, adding that they are invited to attend the session of the Sangguniang Panlungsod of La Carlota on Monday, May 21.
Pontevedra Mayor Jose Benito Alonso earlier urged the DENR for a long-term solution to the problem as this is not the first time for a fishkill to happen in the locality.
Two the same incidents were also reported early last year, which were also attributed to the water contamination to the wastewater discharged by ethanol plant Roxol Bioenergy Corp. (RBC), another subsidiary of Roxas Holdings Inc. also operating in Barangay Nagasi.
RBC, however, dismissed claims that the company’s ethanol plant caused the fishkill as it has instituted long-term plans and programs to comply with environmental laws.
Alonso called it as another disastrous event affecting the livelihood of many residents in at least five barangays.
Based on the latest monitoring of the local government, the water quality in the river returned to its "normal level" as residents again have fishes to catch.