Environment authorities suspended the operations of an ethanol plant of Universal Robina Sugar Milling Corp. (URSMC) after finding that its untreated wastewater caused fishkill that economically dislocated 200 fishing families in Bais City and Manjuyod, Negros Oriental province. Eddie Llamedo, spokesperson of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) regional office, said the ethanol plant in Barangay Tamisu in Bais could resume operations only after the company puts up mitigating measures and pays a P350,000 fine for violating its environmental compliance certificate (ECC). Bais is known for its thriving tours for whale and dolphin watchers in Tañon Strait, the largest marine protected area in the country.

Matus, C. L. (2015, August 13). Negros ethanol plant suspended over fishkill. Philippine Daily Inquirer, p. A8.