Sunday, July 20, 2008 Neighborhood raises gripes vs. piggery owners
STENCH drove 26 residents of Sitio Soong, Barangay Mactan to ask the Lapu-Lapu City Government to act against owners of a piggery, which they said does not have a mayor’s permit and failed to comply with sanitation requirements, such as adequate drainage and septic tank.
In a petition carrying their names and signatures, they told Mayor Arturo Radaza and City Council members that the piggery, which has been operating for “more than three years,” is in the middle of a residential area.
Effects
Residents, particularly the children, allegedly suffered from different ailments, which they said, are caused by the stench from the piggery.
The City Councilors have agreed to look into the complaint.
If the alleged violations are proven true, the city legal office will be directed to immediately issue a cease and desist order.
City Councilor Damian Gomez said the City’s reply will be through Barangay Mactan officials, who are more familiar with the problem.
The residents claimed that there are over 30 hogs in the piggery, whose sanitation is not regularly attended to by the owner, who lives in Barangay Bangkal.
They said City Hall’s action to their petition will determine if they still need to bring the matter to court for “abatement of an offensive nuisance.”
Probe
The City Council has tasked the heads of the health and sanitation and the environment committees to investigate and submit a report Wednesday next week.
Vice Mayor Mario Amores said that under the Sanitation Code, a piggery is not allowed in a residential area because of health hazard.
He added that the lack of a mayor’s permit and disregard of the code’s requirements are among the violations. (AIV)
