CTY OF SAN FERNANDO – “They deter progress. They adversely affect health.”
Thus said Mayor Oscar Rodriguez of this city as he pushed for the creation of the joint task force which will monitor piggeries and poultry farms in Pampanga blamed for the emission of foul smell and spread of deadly diseases.
In a meeting initiated by Angeles City Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan, Rodriguez said the local government units (LGUs) and national environment offices should lead a joint monitoring team which will consider the “welfare of the majority and not the few businessmen.”
But Rodriguez stressed that “rules and procedures should be followed before enforcing a decision, particularly in the issuance of closure order against erring piggery and poultry farms.”
Rodriguez cited the multi-million Leo’s Resort farm in Barangay Lara, here which closed down due to the foul odor and swarms of flies from piggeries in nearby Bacolor town.
“At the onset, Leo’s Resort was even advertised in the national media as an idyllic site for functions and seminars but it could not get enough clientele because of the stench and flies. The property has long been up for sale but there are no takers,” Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez cited a private firm that booked Leo’s Resort for an outing of its workers numbering about but cancelled it abruptly after smelling foul odor caused by the piggery.
Ruperto Cruz, chairman of the Pinoy Gumising Ka Movement (PGKM), announced that the rally against poultries and piggeries in Porac and Angeles City will push through as scheduled on September 22.
The PGKM has been in the forefront of the battle against at least 14 prominent piggeries in Barangays Manibaug Paralaya and Sta. Cruz, Porac and Barangay Cutcut, Angeles City.
Cruz named Sonny Dobles, head of the PGKM environmental desk, as representative to the monitoring team. Pamintuan, on the other hand, assigned City Information Officer (CIO) Archie Reyes.
“We will give the task force a chance to find out the truth. But we will no longer accept the runaround done to us many times over. Heads must roll,” said Cruz.
Porac Mayor Condralito de la Cruz also vowed to join and cooperate with the task force. Representatives from the regional offices of the Environment Management Bureau (EMB) and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will complete the five-man task force.
EMB Regional Director Lormelyn Claudio asked the PGKM and the mayors to give them “two weeks with which to work (on the pollution problem) and show results.”
Claudio and Ricardo Calderon, regional executive director, promised to be “serious and sincere” in the inspection of the piggeries and poultries.
De La Cruz, for his part, said his office will be “sincere” in addressing the problems against piggeries in his town.
But he stressed that “the laws should be applied and they have to gather pieces of evidence before enforcing them.”
Residents of Sta. Cruz said “they will keep a close look at the performance of De la Cruz who just assumed his post last July.” They said the first-term mayor “was a former vice mayor and he doesn’t have the luxury of time to make the necessary moves against harmful piggeries.”
Sta. Cruz Barangay Chief Merlito Bengco also attended the meeting with the EMB, DENR and the three mayors.
Thus said Mayor Oscar Rodriguez of this city as he pushed for the creation of the joint task force which will monitor piggeries and poultry farms in Pampanga blamed for the emission of foul smell and spread of deadly diseases.
In a meeting initiated by Angeles City Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan, Rodriguez said the local government units (LGUs) and national environment offices should lead a joint monitoring team which will consider the “welfare of the majority and not the few businessmen.”
But Rodriguez stressed that “rules and procedures should be followed before enforcing a decision, particularly in the issuance of closure order against erring piggery and poultry farms.”
Rodriguez cited the multi-million Leo’s Resort farm in Barangay Lara, here which closed down due to the foul odor and swarms of flies from piggeries in nearby Bacolor town.
“At the onset, Leo’s Resort was even advertised in the national media as an idyllic site for functions and seminars but it could not get enough clientele because of the stench and flies. The property has long been up for sale but there are no takers,” Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez cited a private firm that booked Leo’s Resort for an outing of its workers numbering about but cancelled it abruptly after smelling foul odor caused by the piggery.
Ruperto Cruz, chairman of the Pinoy Gumising Ka Movement (PGKM), announced that the rally against poultries and piggeries in Porac and Angeles City will push through as scheduled on September 22.
The PGKM has been in the forefront of the battle against at least 14 prominent piggeries in Barangays Manibaug Paralaya and Sta. Cruz, Porac and Barangay Cutcut, Angeles City.
Cruz named Sonny Dobles, head of the PGKM environmental desk, as representative to the monitoring team. Pamintuan, on the other hand, assigned City Information Officer (CIO) Archie Reyes.
“We will give the task force a chance to find out the truth. But we will no longer accept the runaround done to us many times over. Heads must roll,” said Cruz.
Porac Mayor Condralito de la Cruz also vowed to join and cooperate with the task force. Representatives from the regional offices of the Environment Management Bureau (EMB) and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will complete the five-man task force.
EMB Regional Director Lormelyn Claudio asked the PGKM and the mayors to give them “two weeks with which to work (on the pollution problem) and show results.”
Claudio and Ricardo Calderon, regional executive director, promised to be “serious and sincere” in the inspection of the piggeries and poultries.
De La Cruz, for his part, said his office will be “sincere” in addressing the problems against piggeries in his town.
But he stressed that “the laws should be applied and they have to gather pieces of evidence before enforcing them.”
Residents of Sta. Cruz said “they will keep a close look at the performance of De la Cruz who just assumed his post last July.” They said the first-term mayor “was a former vice mayor and he doesn’t have the luxury of time to make the necessary moves against harmful piggeries.”
Sta. Cruz Barangay Chief Merlito Bengco also attended the meeting with the EMB, DENR and the three mayors.
