NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Philippines — Residents along the Binalbagan River are bracing for the possible return of foul-smelling, murky water as sugar mills begin another milling season on October 1, recalling what they say has been a recurring problem in their communities decades ago.
For residents in several villages near the river, the concern is not only the water’s appearance and smell but also how the condition could affect their health and livelihood.
68-year-old Lory Cabuguason told Brigada News FM Philippines that the river’s murky appearance and bad odor first became noticeable a decade ago.
The smell eventually faded after several days, but residents were not surprised when the problem returned.
“The stench is making it hard for us to breathe. Even if we wear a face mask, the smell seeps in. We try to cover our noses with a towel when we cross the bridge, but the stench is too strong, and you can see the murky water bubbling in the river,” she said.
Lory said the odor could become especially unbearable during the daytime as high tide approaches. At times, she said, the smell could also be noticed at night.
For residents, the timing has heightened concerns as another sugar milling season approaches.
A mother in her early 40s, who has three children with asthma, also described experiencing difficulty breathing when the foul odor appears.
She said residents and their children have also experience stomach aches around the start of milling.
“Most of us here, after the start of the milling season, suffered from stomach aches, including the children.”
Fishermen fear impact on livelihood
The concerns extend beyond the smell.
Residents of Barangay Canmuros, whose families depend on fishing in the river, said they have endured the foul odor and murky water since the milling company started its operations.
Fisherman Salvador Bayona, speaking on behalf of Canmuros residents, said the river’s condition has affected families whose daily income depends on fishing.
Bayona and other residents blamed the situation on what they alleged was the release of wastewater from the Binalbagan-Isabela Sugar Company, or BISCOM, into the river.
BISCOM has strongly denied the allegation.
The company, owned by businessman-turned-singer Jose Mari Chan, is a sugar mill district serving Binalbagan, Hinigaran, Moises Padilla, Isabela, and Himamaylan City, and processes a total sugarcane area of 28,725 hectares.
BISCOM said it was compliant with the permits required by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and other government agencies before beginning operations.
“BISCOM is fully compliant with all the permits required by the Department of Environment and other government agencies before the start of our operation and assures the public that our company is discharging zero waste to the water,” the company said.
The statement directly disputes the residents’ allegation that the company is responsible for the condition of the Binalbagan River.
Residents call for investigation
For Bayona and other residents, however, the issue remains one that they want authorities to investigate.
Bayona also said they previously appealed to the DENR to investigate the river’s condition, saying residents were concerned about its biodiversity and the possible effects on their community.
The foul odor has been experienced not only in Canmuros but also in the villages of Marina, San Juan, and Progreso.
Canmuros is also home to the Mangrove Eco Park and Wildlife Sanctuary, a protected area dedicated to conserving the town’s flora and fauna.
For residents who rely on the river, concerns over its condition are closely tied to their ability to earn a living.
“We want a fair investigation into the water quality of our river. It is unjust that our concerns are being overlooked just because we are poor…. In our community, it is uncommon to find people working in an office. Fishing is our primary source of daily income here. If this disappears, what will happen to us?”
Bayona said residents had been raising concerns about river pollution for at least a decade, even before the deterioration they observed in late 2023.
According to him, their previous pleas had “fallen on deaf ears.”
The latest complaints, however, have renewed residents’ calls for authorities to examine the river’s water quality and determine what is causing the changes they have observed.
For residents, the concern is particularly significant as the start of milling season approaches.
They have linked the foul odor and murky water to the period when sugar milling operations are underway, but BISCOM disputes the residents’ allegations.
BISCOM maintains that it operates with the required government permits and discharges zero waste into the water.
That leaves the central question for authorities: what is causing the changes in the Binalbagan River, and what do they mean for the communities that live beside and depend on it?
As another milling season begins, residents are again watching the river closely — and asking for answers about the water they live with and depend on.*
Reymund Titong is a Filipino journalist steadily building his voice in the field of news reporting, driven by a commitment to tell meaningful and relevant stories.
He serves as a correspondent for Rappler, contributes to Negros Daily Bulletin, and maintains a blog on Medium.