BAGUIO City Mayor Mauricio Domogan last week directed several barangay officials for immediate action on requests for environmental clean-ups, specifically on liquid and solid waste.

A task force should also serve the urgent request of Environmental Management Bureau – Department of Environmental and Natural Resources (EMB-DENR) OIC regional director Reynaldo Digamo for the dismantling of backyard piggeries and plugging of illegal waste discharge pipes. A clean-up of Gibraltar creek was also requested, with DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu’s expected visit next month. One of DENR’s top leaders’ main thrust includes clear water.

Digamo noted the mayor earlier issued Administrative Order 181 dated Oct. 2018 declaring every fourth Thursday of every quarter for clean-up day on inland waterways.

In a letter received by Mayor Domogan from Digamo, a progress report on piggery demolition was requested since these were identified to add up to water pollution through measured fecal coliform along Balili River.

In a report, out of 74 barangays traversed by Balili River, 203 hog raisers were inventoried in 17 barangays, from which 27 are known to have stopped operations. Conditions strictly set for hog-raising were, the construction of a separate septic tank specifically for piggery use; the piggery must be 300 meters away from the household; and 500 meters away from waterways. According to Water and Waste Water Ambiance Management Division of the City Environment and Parks Management Office head Moises Lozano, compliance to all three conditions is very slim.

Even with compliance, however, piggeries must totally stop within two years, Lozan added.

The General Services Office, Health Services Office manpower were likewise enjoined by the mayor to address environmental problems. (Baguio City PIO release)