The foul odor emanating from the waste water lagoon of the San Carlos Bionergy Inc. has already lessened, with the improvement of its treatment, Samson Guillergan of the DENR Environmental Management Bureau said yesterday.

Guillergan, who briefed members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Negros Occidental on the environmental compliance of sugar mills and ethanol plants in the province, said the increase in dosage of enzymes, reduced the foul odor from the SCBI waste water lagoon.

San Carlos City Mayor Gerardo Valmayor Jr. earlier called on the SCBI management to address the issue of pollution, in response to mounting complaints of residents near the ethanol plant.

Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. expressed opposition to the dumping at sea of barged-out waste water from the SCBI plant.

However, it was found out yesterday during the briefing of Guillergan and Vicente Losbanes, head of the Environmental Management Unit of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office, that a small alcohol distillery operating in Talisay City, has a permit for barging its waste water.

Vice Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson described the issuing of a DENR permit, allowing barging out of waste water of a distillery in Talisay, as “unfair”.

Guillergan reported that some sugar mills complied with provisions of the Clean Air and Water Act in their operations, while others committed violations, by operating without valid permits, in terms of pollution control.

The DENR officials were invited to the SP, to shed light on environmental compliance of sugar mills, distillery and ethanol plants in Negros Occidental by Board Member Patrick Leonard Lacson.*GPB

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