Mayor orders closure of ‘dirty’ poultry farm

CEBU, Philippines - San Fernando Town Mayor Lakambini “Neneth” Reluya has ordered the closure of a poultry farm reportedly found committing unsanitary practices in its operations.

Reluya has ordered the closure of Twin Towers Poultry Farm owned by a certain Marcelino Co effective June 16.

Ricardo Reluya, of the Local Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office, said that Twin Towers Poultry Farm has violated several rules that include improper disposal of dead livestock, including manure, and the dumping of water waste to the river resulting to contamination.

In line with this, Lakambini has also issued an executive order creating the Composite Inspection Team Alpha (CITA)-III that will check the status of each poultry farm, conduct inspection and issue recommendations to her office.

She also confirmed that there is a fly infestation at Barangay Magsico due to the mismanagement of Twin Towers Poultry Farm.

She added that they also received reports that residents in the area, especially children, are suffering from diarrhea due to fly infestation.

She explained that the poultry farm was illegally operating in the town for a year now.

CITA is composed of representatives from the sanitary office, mayor’s office, Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection and the National Disaster Risk Reduction Council.

They are expected to submit reports and recommendations to Lakambini, one week after their inspection.

She also mandated the licensing office to review each of the poultry farms in the town, to confirm if it is operational or not, and to review their documents.

Sanitary officer Kenneth Tagimacruz, together with some officials, conducted an inspection on three poultry farms in the town since Tuesday.

He explained that aside from the improper management of the establishment, fly infestation is seasonal, especially on rainy days.

He advised that poultry farms should also change their practice on selling the manure to household, which causes fly carriers to spread.

Lakambini added that during her leadership in 2004, she refused to issue a business permit to the establishment.

She also sent a letter to all poultry owners to support and cooperate with CITA III team during inspections. (FREEMAN)