The Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Bicol has suspended the operation of a poultry farm in Guinobatan town, for sanitation problem and operating without permit.
Engr. Roberto D. Sheen, EMB Bicol regional technical director, issued the cease-and-desist order against 6N1 Corp. on Friday due to the presence of swarms of flies which threaten the health of the residents of Barangay Upper Binogsacan in Guinobatan.
Sheen said the poultry farm was shut down for its failure to comply with the environmental compliance certificate (ECC) issued by the EMB.
The proliferation of flies in Guinobatan has been reported since August 1 last year but no action has been taken by the company, whose registered owner is Jerome Lee of Legazpi City.
Several barangays in Guinobatan town complained of flies coming from the poultry farm and spilling over to other villages which, residents feared, might cause unprecedented health problems in the community.
Sheen said the poultry farm of 6N1 Corp. had not only created health and environmental hazard but had also operated without the necessary permit.
“We’re temporarily closing down the poultry farm due to the spread of flies that has caused problem to the residents of Barangay Upper Binogsacan, Guinobatan,” Sheen said.
Prior to suspension order, the DENR-EMB Bicol, according to Sheen, had received reports regarding the swarm of flies in the farm.
He said his office immediately conducted an on-site validation and during the assessment, flies were seen in the farm and in neighboring residential areas.
“The farm, likewise, violated Section 9, Article 11 of DENR Administrative Order 2003-30 for failure to comply with the ECC condition, exceeding the total capacity of 90,000 heads of birds and of 2005-10 for failure to secure Wastewater Discharge Permit,” Sheen said.
Though the poultry farm management immediately submitted a plan to minimize or eradicate the flies and institute biosafety measures, residents in Guinobatan had again complained of the presence of the insects.
The EMB conducted another inspection and investigation on January 6 in response to the complaints of the residents and found out that flies were “all around the place.”
The farm violated again the ECC condition for poor housekeeping and sanitation, noncompliance of waste discharge permit and Permit to Operate Air Pollution Source Equipment, Sheen said.
Residents of the seven neighboring barangays claimed that the flies come from the farm which emit foul odor that attracts insects.
The residents also complained that barangay officials did not take action against the poultry farm.
Guinobatan Mayor Ann Gemma Ongjoco earlier said she had already warned the owner of the poultry farm to address the problem but no remedial measures were taken to stop the infestation of flies in the farm.
2 comments
local officials obviously have received their shares so no action was taken. election is near. boot them
local officials obviously have received their shares so no action was taken. election is near. boot them