PGKM to protest piggery, poultry farms in Porac

PORAC - Local officials welcomed the scheduled rally on Wednesday by the Pinoy Gumisang Ka Movement (PGKM) that raise environmental and health concerns on some 40 poultry and piggery farms operating here.

Acting Mayor Dexter David said on Tuesday that the Municipal Government, through Mayor Condralito Dela Cruz, has issued a permit to hold rally in favor of the PGKM and even allowed the setting of space for their rally.

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"We welcome these activities as a way of showing that the new municipal administration is opening its doors to the old issue of piggery and poultry farms here. The administration of Mayor Dela Cruz is taking this up seriously and is open in taking up comments and proposals from concerned groups to further come up with a solution to this problem," David said.

However, David said PGKM should also give a chance for a new set of dialogues and to allow the piggery owners enough time to present possible alternatives to better reduce the foul stench emitted by piggery farms here.

PGKM is led by businessman Ruperto Cruz who has been clamoring for the closure of all piggery and poultry farms on allegations that the foul stench and waste emitted from the said farms cause serious environmental and health risks to local residents.

David said while the new administration has yet to be consulted by PGKM, the Municipal Government has conducted a full review of the permits of all piggery farms here, including those complying with environmental and health standards. Previously, two hog farms have been closed due to non-compliance of health standards.

Meanwhile, Toto Gonzales of the Pampanga-Angeles Livestock Growers Association said the municipality of Porac and the Environmental Management Bureau have already conducted a hearing on the issue and created a task force to monitor the waste management procedure of every farm concerned.

David said the Municipal Government will exhaust all measures to come up with an amicable solution that is agreeable to all sectors.(Ian Ocampo Flora)