UBAY, Bohol – Residents in barangay Lomangog of this progressive port town were jolted when a foul odor from what was believed to be wastewater of a “lagoon” of Marcela Farms overflowed sometime on May 21, 2022.
The environmental incident has caused serious concerns among residents about its effects on the environment and to the people’s health, according to a resident in an interview.
A video shot of the overflow of wastewater from Marcela Farms was posted on social media by a certain Ian Ambe Igot. The post gained 2.3 thousand views, 934 likes and 48 comments as of Wednesday of last week.
The said video showed that a certain unplanted ricefield near the company’s wastewater pond was practically covered what looks like foamy liquid.
In an exclusive interview, Ricardo “Carding” Igot, 65 confirmed this. He told this paper that it is his ricefield though there were no plants when the overflow took place since they already harvested it.
He said that a leak is believed to have caused the overflow but no definite what was really that foamy liquid.
He said that he’s worry that the said ricefield might be affected by the said overflow.
He said that the following day, Sunday, he met with barangay captain Felix Cutanda and representative of the farm to apparently settle his complaint.
For his part, general manager of Alturas group of companies that include Marcela Farms had this to say:
“Gamay ra man kaayo. Na asikaso na man, nagka talk na pod sa barangay sa na affected nga farmer. Gamay ra jud epecto pa to sa Odette nakasulod ang tubig sa pond.. ga-overflow.” (It’s just minute incident. It’s already settled with the farmer concerned. The overflow was the result typhoon Odette).
It was not known yet if why the wastewater from pond only overflowed after over five months after the Odette hit Bohol on December 16, 2021.
During the on-site visit, the company has covered the overflowed foamy stinking materials with rice husks hauled by big trucks. The rice husks were then spread by an equipment.
In a check with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB), it was learned that the said agency has already investigated the incident.
The TIMES tried to get a copy of the probe but has yet to receive one for it has to be signed by DENR regional director, according to Rosalina Gaterin of the EMB office in Cortes, Bohol.
“Sir need pa na inform sa region mo sign pa ang RD,” she said. (rvo)
