MANILA, Philippines – The Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) of the Department of Environment and Natiural Resources (DENR) deployed teams to assess the extent of fish kills in Obando, Bulacan, and in Pontevedra, Negros Occidental.

The fish kill claimed  P17 million ($327,390)* worth of milkfish in Bulacan, spanning an area of at least 150 hectares, according to provincial agriculturist Maria Gloria Carillo.

At least 40 fishpond operators in barangays Pag-asa, Paliwas, Hulo, Lawa, Paco, Tawiran, and Salambao were affected by the fish kill.

“The inspection team is still validating if other villages were affected by the fish kill,” said Carillo.

Initial findings of the team showed that the fish kill was due to the low dissolved oxygen content of the water, caused by abrupt rainfall.

Meanwhile, a fish kill incident was also reported in Pontevedra, Negros Occidental, after a sugar mill dam of Central Azucarera de la Carlota Incorporated in the adjacent La Carlota City collapsed on Tuesday, May 8.

The cost and extent of the damage has yet to be determined.

An inspection conducted by the EMB indicated pollution, water discoloration and presence of dead fish in the area. The team is still analyzing the water to determine what caused the pollution.

The Philippine News Agency (PNA) reported that this is not the first time a fish kill occurred in Pontevedra. Two similar incidents were also reported last year.

CACI said in a press statement that it is closely monitoring the high water levels of the impounding dams at Barangay Najalin, which apparently caused the breach of the southern wall of the dam, the PNA reported. – Rappler.com

US$1 = P51.92