SO THE PUBLIC may know.
There is a pressing environmental concern that Negrenses must not ignore—the reported boron contamination allegedly polluting the waters of Tañon Strait.
But first, what is boron? And what is the Tañon Strait?
In chemistry, boron is a naturally occurring element. However, in large amounts, it can pose serious health risks. Excessive exposure can damage the stomach, intestines, liver, kidneys, and brain—and yes, it can even be fatal. In aquatic ecosystems, high concentrations of boron are toxic, harming marine life by disrupting growth, reproduction, and overall ecological balance.
The Tañon Strait, meanwhile, is a significant body of water that separates the islands of Negros and Cebu. It stretches roughly 160 kilometers, linking the Visayan Sea in the north to the Bohol Sea in the south. It is also a protected seascape—the second-largest marine protected area in the Philippines—and recognized as an Important Marine Mammal Area (IMMA), home to 14 species of cetaceans. Furthermore, it serves as a vital fishing ground, providing sustenance and livelihood to around 2.4 million Filipinos.
Now, should we Negrenses be concerned about this alleged boron contamination?
The answer is yes.
Why?
Because if the report holds water, 43,000 fisherfolk in Cebu and Negros could suffer from drastically reduced fish catch—or worse, none at all. Public health, especially in places like Barangay Bato in Toledo City, Cebu, and nearby areas in Negros, could also be at risk. This is no small matter.
CEED Findings
So who is allegedly responsible for the contamination?
According to Krishna Ariola, climate and energy program head of the Center for Energy, Ecology, and Development (CEED), the culprit is the 340-megawatt coal-fired power plant of Therma Visayas, Inc. (TVI)—a subsidiary of AboitizPower—located in Barangay Bato, Toledo City.
How?
Through wastewater discharge from the coal plant, Ariola said.
CEED’s water sampling, conducted on February 11, 2025, following clamor from fisherfolk, showed boron levels surrounding the TVI plant were approximately four times higher than normal. Sulfate levels exceeded the baseline by 1.4 times, and nickel concentrations were nearing the regulatory threshold.
Let’s be clear: These aren’t empty claims. CEED says it has the scientific evidence to support these findings.
The Church Speaks
Upon learning of this issue, San Carlos Bishop Gerry Alminaza—an ardent environmental advocate and co-convenor of the Save Tañon Strait Network—voiced concern and condemnation.
On April 1, Bishop Gerry shared with me the implications of this environmental crisis. He is the same bishop whose fierce opposition helped prevent the construction of coal and liquefied natural gas plants in San Carlos City by San Miguel Corp.
Now, he is calling on Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla, a former AboitizPower executive, to investigate the alleged contamination and take urgent action. He’s also urging the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Department of Health (DOH) to intervene.
When Bishop Gerry speaks, especially on environmental matters, people listen. And rightly so.
‘Fake News’?
To present a balanced story, I reached out to AboitizPower for their side. Their response? They dismissed CEED’s claims as “fake news.” They even challenged the group to provide proof.
Well, CEED handed me a six-page laboratory report from Ostrea Mineral Laboratories, Inc., a DENR-accredited lab (CR No. 04112023), confirming their water sample findings.
Here’s the kicker: When I relayed this to AboitizPower, they admitted that they, too, use Ostrea for their own water sampling. So why call CEED’s findings fake news?
That’s a question they’ll have to answer.
Like Playing Volleyball
To be candid, I was amused—if not baffled—by how AboitizPower’s PR and communications team handled my inquiries. It felt like a game of volleyball: tossing me around from Manila to Cebu and back again, with no one willing to answer directly—even after I provided them with all the background and documents.
Honestly, for such a major energy company, I found their PR crisis handling underwhelming, to say the least. AboitizPower’s reaction left me wondering if they’ve ever been trained to handle a real PR crisis.
A Weak Defense
I speak from experience. Fourteen years ago, I worked as a PR consultant and later a communications manager in the power industry before returning to media in 2020. In all that time, I never encountered a response as weak as this.
Simply dismissing an environmental report as fake news—without even checking the source or verifying the data—is not just lazy, it’s irresponsible. And when the truth surfaced—that both sides used the same lab—their defense collapsed.
What a PR mess, indeed.
The State of Tañon Strait
Now, with both CEED and Bishop Gerry raising the alarm, it’s clear this issue is worth serious attention—not just for the sake of Tañon Strait, but for the thousands of lives and an entire ecosystem that depend on it.
I’ve known Bishop Gerry for years. His environmental advocacy is beyond question. He will not—and cannot—stay silent when nature is under threat.
And for that, we owe him thanks.
To some, boron might sound like a minor issue. But its presence in our waters demands a thorough, science-based investigation. This is about safeguarding public health, food security, and biodiversity in both Cebu and Negros.
The cry for Tañon Strait is not only real, it is urgent. And if proven credible, Negrenses will surely rally behind CEED and Bishop Gerry in their common cause.
As the great anthropologist Margaret Mead once said:
“We won’t have a society if we destroy the environment.”
Let’s not allow that to happen—not here, not now./PN
