THE Iloilo City Council is pushing the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources regional office to immediately implement the cease and desist Order (CDO) promulgated by the Pollution Adjudication Board last February 18 against Charlie Farm Corporation (CFC) in Barangay Pakiad, Oton, Iloilo.
Councilor Candice Magdalane Tupas of the committee on environment said that more than 8,000 residents in three housing subdivisions near Pakiad are complaining against the obnoxious smell coming from the piggery farm which until now, its owner failed to introduce correcting measures.
The residents of Monterosa Subdivision, Ana Ros Subdivision and Imperial Homes IV, as represented by lawyer Beato Alessandro de la Cruz III previously complained to the City Council as well as the DENR regarding the situation.
After a public hearing and consultation with the representatives of the subdivisions and CFC and local environmental officers of Oton, Iloilo, SP Resolution 2015-444 was passed by the City Council last September 1, 2015.
Despite the passage of the resolution and issuance of several citations for violations of environmental laws, Charlie Farm continues to operate to the prejudice of the nearby residents.
DENR-PAB case 06-00865-16 is entitled “In the Matter of the Water Pollution Control and Abatement Case versus Charlie Farm Corp” for violation of RA 9275 and its implementing rules and regulations.
The regional director of EMB Region Western Visayas or his duly authorized representative in coordination with the regional executive director was directed to serve and execute the CDO within 72 hours from receipt hereof.
Despite the issuance of the CDO by the PAB on February 18, 2016, Charlie Farm continues to operate and regularly cause obnoxious odor by reason that no implementation of such order was made, Tupas said.
The city legal office is requested to follow-up the requested implementation of the order with the regional office of DENR.