THE Environment Management Bureau (EMB)-Cordillera will not allow any new applicants for the operation of backyard piggeries in Baguio City even if it is equipped with an area for its septic tank.
EMB-CAR director Reynaldo Digamo said this is in line with the earlier Administrative Order No.43, series of 2018 by Mayor Mauricio Domogan creating an inter-agency task force on piggeries in the city and defining its functions relative to the proliferation of backyard piggeries in the different barangays which had been the subject of complaints from affected residents.
“No more backyard piggeries will be allowed even if they have an area for their septic tanks. This problem has been there even before my coming to the city. I would not know if there were efforts before to remove these backyard piggeries but if we look at the law, there are no circumstances giving temporary reprieve to allow the operation of backyard piggeries in the city,” Digamo stated.
EMB-CAR identified the operation of backyard piggeries as one of the major pollutants of the various tributaries of water systems in the city because some of the piggeries allow their waste to directly flow to the city's water system.
BRM chairman Erdolfo Balajadia earlier expressed the movements stand on the “no backyard piggery” in the city as specified in the Environment Code.
“BRM is against the operation of any backyard piggery in the city of Baguio aside from your recommendations, I don’t know how the father of the city will weigh on your recommendations vis a vis our objection in the BRM,” Balajadia said.
In previous Talakayans, Wilhelmina Lagunilla, EMB senior environmental management specialist, identified Pacdal, Gibraltar and Maria Basa having the most number of backyard piggeries in the city.
“We are hoping with your recommendations to the city, no other backyard piggeries will be given a chance to operate because it will be discriminatory to others. In the final analysis, our governing body which is the city council and the head of the LGU (local government unit) will be the ones who will make the final decision on this,” the BRM Chairman added.
EMB-CAR urged the local government to take appropriate steps to prevent the mushrooming of piggeries in residential areas in the different parts of the city to lessen the major contributors of pollution to the waterways. (Jonathan Llanes)