A molasses spill was reported in Sagay City, Province of Negros Occidental during a shore-to-ship operations at its port.

While molasses was loaded from a truck to a barge docked at Sagay Feeder Port on August 7, a port personnel observed of the discoloration of seawater.

In an aerial video taken by personnel of the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Sagay City, the discoloration of the water at the port happened past 9 a.m.

“Nagkulay pula ang tubig. Nang nag-investigate na sila, nakita na ang pinagmulan nito ay ang barge. Sa investigation sa inspecton, molasses,” Bobby Togle, resource assessment head of the Sagay Marine Reservation, said.

The Coast Guard Response Team contained immediately the molasses spill estimated to be around 300 metric tons, according to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).

In the morning of the following day, an inspection was carried out by the Sagay Marine Reservation and PCG. It was found out that the molasses spill did not cause damage to marine life.

“Depende kasi iyan sa volume ng molasses na mahulog. Organic naman ito, hindi naman siya chemical. Sa ngayon, contained na ito at diluted na siya. Hindi naman siya makadulot ng pinsala sa kanyang paligid,” Togle added.

Togle pointed out that the substance becomes harmful to fish and other marine life only if it is concentrated molasses.

In a PCG statement, it disclosed that its Marine Environmental Protection Unit has already collected water samples aside from having conducted recovery operations.

According to Commander Jansen Benjamin of PCG-Northern Negros Occidental, he spoke with the skipper of the barge and requested the filing of a marine protest.

“We’ll try to read (it) para malaman rin natin ang side (ng tagapamahala) ng mismong barko. Ang compliance certificates niya sa marine pollution, safety documents are all updated (naman). It’s a compliant vessel,” Benjamin said.

The PCG coordinated with LGU Sagay City on the investigation.

Initial assessment rendered that the incident could have been caused by human error.

Based on the inspection, the barge has no signs of any gaps or holes.

As of posting time, the news team tried to reach out to the owner of the barge for a statement.  

Molasses is organic, it is a "viscous byproduct that is obtained principally from the refining of sugarcane into sugar."

Molasses from sugarcane is edible. Molasses is used in baking, manufacture of candies, and the making of rum. Other uses are in the production of animal feeds, vinegar, citric acid, among a variety of products.