BAGUIO CITY – Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan recently issued Administrative Order (AO) No. 43, series of 2018 which created an inter-agency task force on piggeries in the city and defining its functions relative to the proliferation of backyard piggeries in the different barangays which had been the subject of complaints from affected residents.
The local chief executive underscored there is a need to create an inter-agency task force to inspect and monitor the existence of piggeries in the city’s barangays and come out with the appropriate recommendations to prevent the pollution being caused by the piggeries on the city’s air and water.
Under the said order, the inter-agency task force on piggeries shall be chaired by the City Environment and Parks Management Officer with the City Health Services Officer as the action officer and the City Veterinarian, City Building Official, Representative from the Cordillera Office of the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB-CAR) and Representative from the Cordillera Office of the Housing Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB-CAR) as members.
The task force will be empowered to conduct an inspection on existing backyard piggeries in the different barangays in the city; coordinate with barangay officials in the monitoring the compliance of piggeries to existing environmental and health standards in residential areas; make the appropriate recommendations on the measures to be undertaken by piggery owners to continue their operation within communities in the different parts of the city and perform other duties as may be directed by the City Mayor and the designated Chairperson.
Domogan gave the inter-agency task force on piggeries 90 days to submit its comprehensive report to the City Mayor which will serve as the basis for him to make the necessary actions on the doable recommendations to address the problems caused by the presence of piggeries in the different barangays in the city.
While back yard piggeries serve as a major livelihood for a number of people in the said places, Domogan said the same has been a cause of nuisance in their neighbourhood due to their alleged failure to comply with the existence of standard septic tanks, the waste from the said piggeries are directly flowing to tributaries of major water systems aside from the fact that the obnoxious odor emitted by the piggeries cause inconvenience to the residents and passers-by.
The issuance of the order was anchored on the pertinent Provisions of Republic Act (RA) 8749 or the Philippine clean Air Act, RA 9275 or the Philippine Clean Water Act and RA 9904 or the Magna Carta for Homeowners and Homeowners Associations which actually prescribe the standards for the existence of piggeries within residential areas.
Earlier, the Cordillera office of the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB-CAR) identified the operation of backyard piggeries as one of the major pollutants of the various tributaries of major water systems in the city because some of the piggeries directly allow the waste from the said piggeries to directly flow to the city’s water system which is already considered to be punishable by law.
EMB-CAR regional director Reynaldo S. Digamo claimed the local government must take the appropriate steps to prevent the mushrooming of piggeries in residential areas in the different parts of the city to lessen the major contributors of pollution to the waterways.
By Dexter A. See
