Monday, June 30, 2008 [ sunstar.com.ph ]
PORAC -- A group is calling for the relocation of piggeries in a village here.
The group that calls itself as Kruzada para sa Kalinisan at Kaayusan, Inc. (KKK) even vowed to gather 2,000 people to oust hog raisers from Barangay Sta. Cruz here.
In a public information and consultative meeting over the weekend, KKK urged local residents and government officials to help put a stop to the alleged "foul-smell and possible harmful effects of piggeries."
It claimed to be an advocacy group that has been calling for the observance of environmental and health standards for pig farms.
KKK president Joyce Velasquez said they have been complaining the foul smell and pollution brought about by piggeries here since 2003. However, she said most of their complaints fell on deaf ears.
"During the start of our campaign in the past, we were able to create multi-party monitoring teams to watch over and monitor farm standards and we were also able to get notice of violation against those who do not follow the rules. But we are already tired of seeing the same problems emerge over and over again," Velasquez said.
She said there were instances when they discover farms that have overflowing lagoons for storing waste. Some, she said, even lack mortality pits for dead pigs.
"This lack of responsibility on the part of the piggery owner results in the foul odor that is emitted in the air," Velasquez said, adding that the piggeries pose health risks to local residents here.
"These (piggeries) are near residential areas, the solution that we see now is relocation," she said.
The piggery owners and operators are opposed to the idea.
Johnson Dycaico, a piggery owner, said that it is unfair to generalize the accusation of sanitary violations against piggery farms.
"We have an environmental compliance certificate and we follow all the rules and regulations set forth by the DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources)," he said.
Dycaico's farm alone hosts around 4,000 heads, but his farm, he said, is well equipped to handle the sanitary requirements needed for such number of pigs.
"We have quarterly inspections aside from the barangay permits issued by officials here," Dycaico added.
However, Velasquez's group is unconvinced. She said there was a previous proposal of the Municipal Government to relocate the piggeries in 10 years time.
"Ten years is such a long time, we will not allow the air we breathe and the water we drink to get polluted before these piggeries relocate," Velasquez said.
When asked where the piggeries might be relocated in case they leave Barangay Sta Cruz, Velasquez replied: "That is their problem."
Recently, businessman Ruperto Cruz, who has been developing a nearby golf course for Koreans, expressed the same concern against the long-existing piggeries, saying the pig farms give a negative effect on businesses and potential investors.
Piggery business started in Eastern villages of Porac in the 1970s. Small and big farms established their base of operations in Barangays Manibaug Libutad, Manibaug Paralaya, and Sinura. It was found out that there are around five piggeries in Barangay Sta. Cruz alone. (IOF)
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