By JEN BAYLON

The M/T May Queen of Charity, which caused the molasses spill in the Sagay Marine Reserve, was allowed to leave the Sagay feeder port after its management paid a P250,000 fine.

Sagay City Administrator Atty. Ryan Bonghanoy said the ship left the port last Tuesday, August 13.

Bonghanoy explained that the fine was due to the violation of the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas Systems Act of 2018, following the leakage that covered 1.3 hectares of the Sagay Marine Reserve, which is a protected area.

However, aside from the local government unit, the Environmental Management Bureau can also impose fines against the management of the vessel.

Bonghanoy clarified that molasses is not dangerous to fish and other marine resources because it is organic and quickly dissolves in water within two days.

It was learned that the molasses was from a plant in Sagay City, and was supposed to be brought to Manila on August 7./JB, WDJ