THE Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (Sinag) said it will file cases against the mayor of Floridablanca with the Ombudsman and the Office of the Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) for allegedly violating Presidential Proclamation 1143 and Republic Act 10631 or the Animal Welfare Law of 2013.
This is in relation to Evergreen Bioscience Technologies Inc., which Mayor Darwin Manalansan had ordered closed several times due to alleged violations.
In recent interviews, Manalansan said the farm reportedly failed to eradicate the foul odor, which brought flies and being complained by residents of Barangays Gutad, Anon and Bodega.
“Ang pagharang nung Biyernes ng mga kinatawan ng Mayor ng Floridablanca sa paglabas ng mga inahing baboy (breeder) para sa repopulation efforts nang industriya ay tahasang pagbastos sa kautusan ng Pangulo na inaatasan ang lahat ng LGUs na tumulong at suportahan ang rehabilitasyon ng livestock industry,” said Sinag Chair Rosendo So.
On May 10, 2021, Proclamation 1143 was issued President Rodrigo Duterte, placing the entire country under a State of Calamity due to the African Swine Fever.
“Under Section 2 of Proclamation 1143, all LGUs are enjoined to render full assistance in jumpstarting the rehabilitation of the hog industry,” it said.
LGUs are mandated to assist and not hinder the repopulation and rehabilitation of the hog industry.
According to So, they will also be filing cases with the Ombudsman against the mayor, barangay captain and their representatives.
“The arbitrary closure order issued by the Mayor on the Evergreen hog farm has already subjected the pigs to undue physical and psychological stress, unnecessary discomfort and pain, which are a clear violation of Republic Act 10631 or the Animal Welfare Act,” the group added.
On August 9, 2019, the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office and Municipal Health Office issued a warning against the piggery farm to eradicate the foul odor in 30 days, saying failure to do so will result in its closure.
Manalansan, in a May 2020 statement, said the piggery farm has continued to ignore the warning of the local government and is considered allegedly a "nuisance" to the community. The farm was also closed in May 2020.