Jonas leaves issue on pigpens to city council

CEBU, Philippines - Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes will let the city council decide on the requests of piggery owners whose pigpens were demolished last week in barangay Mantuyong.

Cortes said Councilor Jimmy Lumapas, who is the committee chairman on market, abattoir and agriculture, will study the issue at hand and make recommendations to the city council afterward.

Earlier, barangay Mantuyong captain Antonio Maquilan, one of the pigpen owners, has appealed for a moratorium on the payments of their hogs which are now in an enclosure at the city abattoir, and that the abattoir be accessible by jeepneys.               

The city charges a P4 fee per pig for each day of stay at the abattoir.

Cortes said hog owners and the city can meet halfway on some issues but made it clear he is unwilling to waive the fees.  (FREEMAN)