Friday, July 11, 2008 Regulation of chicken dung delivery sought By Jane Cadalig
AFTER the repeal of a resolution which earlier legalized the sale of chicken dung in La Trinidad, comes the passage of a measure regulating the time for trucks carrying the product to pass along the municipality's main roads.
La Trinidad Councilor Jerome Selmo moved for the regulation of chicken dung delivery trucks along the highways.
"We want the trucks to pass during the time when there are less vehicles passing the main roads, if we were to strictly implement the ordinance on (the abatement of) nuisance," Selmo said.
He proposed for chicken dung dealers to be allowed to pass along the town's thoroughfares from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m., to minimize complaints received from the public about the nauseous odor from trucks containing chicken manure.
He said dealers will be first given a leeway to adjust to the proposed delivery hours and they will be allowed to pass through.
The councilor made the proposal after the Municipal Council approved his motion to repeal Resolution 194-05, which allowed chicken dung dealers to conduct business in Barangay Shilan.
The measure also allowed the collection of fees from chicken dung dealers. Collections made were deposited in a municipal trust fund.
Selmo said the legality of the resolution authorizing the collection is questionable, adding that only an ordinance can legalize imposition of fees.
Officials passed the resolution in 2005, to allow the conduct of a study on the business and to determine if this would be regulated through an ordinance or not.
Selmo said the time for the conduct of a study has long been overdue.
"Since the mayor already compelled the chicken dung dealers to move out of La Trinidad, there is no reason for us (to keep) the resolution (in effect)," he said.
Dealers have moved out to nearby Tublay since January.
The La Trinidad Municipal Council also put on hold the deliberation of the proposed ordinance on the regulation of chicken dung sale, as a consequence of the repeal of Resolution 194.
Chicken dung trade is banned in La Trinidad under the municipal ordinance on the abatement of nuisance. Chicken dung is considered a nuisance due to the foul smell emitted from the product.
