Evergreen Farm locked down.
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – An agri-business group engaged in hog breeding and allied services is set to file charges against Floridablanca town Mayor Darwin Manlansan for “willfully violating Presidential Proclamation 1143 and the Animal Welfare Law of 2013 (RA 10631).”
The Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) said the cases will be filed with the Ombudsman and the Office of the Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government.
“Ang pagharang nung Biyernes ng mga kinatawan ng mayor ng Floridablanca sa paglabas ng mga inahing baboy (breeder) para sa repopulation efforts ng industriya ay tahasang pagbastos sa kautusan ng Pangulo na inaatasan ang lahat ng LGUs na tumulong at suportahan ang rehabilitasyon ng livestock industry,” said SINAG chair Rosendo So.
Last May 10, 2021, Proclamation 1143 was issued President Duterte, placing the entire country under a state of calamity due to the African swine fever.
“Under Section 2 of Proclamation 1143, all LGUS are enjoined to render full assistance in jumpstarting the rehabilitation of the hog industry,” So said, thus, LGUs are mandated to assist, under Proclamation 1143, and not hinder the repopulation and rehabilitation of the hog industry.
“Sa halip na tumulong, ang mayor pa ang nagpapahinto sa muling pagsigla ng pagbababuyan, we are seeking the immediate intervention of DILG Secretary Eduardo Año,” he lamented. “Local executives are the chief implementors and not the principal violators of our laws and government directives.”
He furthered: “Nung isang araw lang ay nabalitaan natin ang pagsuspindi ng DILG sa mayor ng San Simon, dito rin sa Pampanga, kaya’t naniniwala tayo sa agaran at makatwirang aksyon ng kalihim.”
According to SINAG, they will also be filing cases with the Ombudsman against the mayor, the barangay captain and their representatives for violating RA 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act; RA 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees; Executive Order No. 292 series of 1987 (Instituting the Administrative Code of 1987); and RA 11032 or the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018.
“Kung ang sinasabi ng mayor na ilang taon nang walang permit ang Evergreen Farm, bakit ngayon lang niya ipapasara ito? Siya pa ang dapat makasuhan (for gross neglect of duty),” So said.
“We have also received copies of documents that will explain the actions taken by the mayor against Evergreen farm,” he added. “Local government officials are bound to implement the laws, they cannot circumvent it for personal gain or partisan reasons.”
So noted that “the arbitrary closure order issued by the Mayor on the Evergreen hog farm has already subjected the pigs to undue physical and psychological stress, unnecessary discomfort and pain, which are clear violation of Republic Act 10631 or the Animal Welfare Act.”
It can be recalled that under the said law, animal welfare pertains to the physical and psychological well-being of animals. It includes, but not limited to, the avoidance of abuse, maltreatment, cruelty and exploitation of animals by humans by maintaining appropriate standards of accommodation, feeding and general care, the prevention and treatment of disease and the assurance of freedom from fear, distress, harassment, and unnecessary discomfort and pain.
