Carcar mayor closes piggery farm for breach of sanitation

CEBU, Philippines - A piggery farm at Barangay Liburon in Carcar City was closed down for alleged non-compliance of sanitation rules, among other violations.

Mayor Nicepuro Apura yesterday issued the closure order, Executive Order 190, against the farm, owned by businessman Lim Chiu, after finding out it has no business permit and that the place reeked and had poor sanitation.

"The absence of proper drainage, the farm’s poor environmental sanitation, foul odor and presence of an open lagoon inside the farm exposes the residents living in the area," the order read.

Apura said the pig farm has been in business since 2011 and yet until now it has not secured the necessary permits like sanitary, business and building. It even has no location clearance, he told The FREEMAN.

The mayor also pointed out that the city government already gave the farm owner due process through three sanitary orders, issued by the City’s Sanitary Health inspectors, recommending for the correction of the violations committed.

However, Chiu refused to comply with these orders, said Apura. "We have been receiving numerous complaints from nearby residents and this prompted the closure of the said piggery," he added.   (FREEMAN)