Hog raisers ordered: Construct septic tanks

BAGUIO CITY – Some 32 backyard hog raisers in Barangay Holy Ghost Extension here agreed to construct standard quality septic tanks to prevent waste generated from their piggeries from being dumped in tributaries of the Balili River that caused pollution.

During a meeting presided by Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan and representatives from the different offices of the city government Tuesday, the concerned backyard hog raisers agreed to the proposal of the local chief executive for them to construct their own standard septic tanks to serve as the outlet of their piggeries.

The City Environment and Parks Management Office (CEPMO) was given three days to provide the backyard hog raisers with the appropriate design of the standard quality septic tanks in their compounds in order to minimize the pollution of the tributaries of the Balili river.

Domogan said hog raisers will be given one month from Tuesday to build their own septic tanks for their respective piggeries to prevent repeated complaints from their neighbors on the foul odor emanating from the piggeries which cause unnecessary inconvenience to the people living in their surrounding areas.

        At the same time, a monitoring team composed of representatives from the City Health Office, CEPMO, Holy Ghost Extension Barangay Council, the affected backyard hog raisers and the complaining residents from the different parks.

The complainants and the backyard hog raisers agreed that those who will not comply with the agreed conditions will face the penalty of having their piggeries closed the soonest after the one month grace period.

At the same time, barangay officials, concerned residents and the backyard hog raisers also agreed to conduct a regular clean up drive in their respective places in coordination with other neighboring barangays of Honeymoon and Holy Ghost Proper to help minimize the volume of waste being washed into the Balili River.

Domogan expressed confidence that the example set by backyard hog raisers of Holy Ghost Extension in complying with the put up of their respective hog raisers in the other barangays to avoid the filing of complaints against them on the foul odor emanating from their respective piggeries, saying that their voluntary compliance to such requirement will help in reducing the pollution and inconvenience of their neighborhood.

He said setting up  piggeries in populated areas of the city is prohibited, thus, hog raisers must construct septic tanks to address waste generated by  piggeries and lessen foul odor emanating from piggeries.

He urged owners of backyard piggeries to cooperate with regulations imposed by barangays and the city government to avoid closure of such piggeries that would deprive them source of income. – Dexter A. See