TAYUG–The municipal government is also violating environment laws.

This was the finding of the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) that looked into the violations of a big piggery farm in barangay Barangobong, Tayug.

The EMB headed by Regional Director Joel Salvador discovered an open dump site being maintained by the municipal government along the creek where the Excel Farm owned by Dr. and Mrs. Rodolfo Custodio was reportedly dumping its wastes.

The EMB stumbled upon the open dump site of the municipal government when its personnel inspected the creek where Excel Farm was reportedly discharging its waste matters in violation of existing pollution laws.

This prompted the EMB to direct the municipal government to immediately remove the open dump site and undertake the clearing of the river of all debris.

The letter of Director Salvador dated June 26, 2006 to Tayug Mayor Carlos Trese Mapili and all others concerned stated that the deadline for the phase out of all open dump sites throughout the country was February 16, 2004.

This was provided for in the Republic Act No. 9003 or the Solid Waste Management Act.

However, no sanction was imposed by the EMB against the municipal government and the Excel Farm, except to order the company to help clear the debris it dumped along the creek.

Many local government units have already complied with the requirement except for a few, including Dagupan City.

An inspection team headed by Alex Almogela found the piggery farm maintaining  two lagoons for pig droppings and two units of biogas digester that are capable of generating inexpensive fuel for cooking, heating and lighting.

The EMB also ordered the owner of the piggery farm and the municipal government to hold a dialogue with the affected residents on how they can clean the creek and restore its lost eco-system.

The SB had recommended the piggery farm’s temporary closure and directed its owner to adopt measures to ensure proper disposal and deposits of their wastes.

Thus, it hoped that the EMB would order the closure of the piggery farm.

Salvador, however, said the EMB cannot order the closure of Excel Farm but can only recommend corrective measures that will abate the pollution problem.

On the other hand, Mayor Mapili, is reluctant to issue a cease and desist order against the piggery farm, citing a Supreme Court decision in Technology Developers Inc. vs. the Court of Appeals in 1991, that ruled that pollution cases are within the exclusive jurisdiction and competence of DENR and therefore are beyond the power of the local mayor to resolve.

Salvador said his office will investigate other piggery farms in the town reportedly dumping their wastes down the creek as well.

Only the Excel Farm was the subject of a complaint by residents before the Sangguniang Bayan headed by Vice Mayor Madilyn Cabotaje.

The Excel Farm is employing some 200 workers and has been supplying hogs to 10 provinces in Luzon for the last 30 years.

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