Trinidad cops, execs ‘protectors’ of illegal chicken dung dealers

By Dexter A. See

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- This capital town’s police and some officials have been accused by local folk of being “protectors” of the “illegal” chicken dung leaders.

Thousands of residents in several barangays here said proliferation of illegal chicken dung traders along the Halsema Highway has created inconvenience among the people and motorists as well as posed threat to the environment because of obnoxious smell emanating from the dung.
Even legitimate chicken dung dealers are complaining on their reduced income because the municipal government and law enforcers are allegedly tolerating the chicken dung traders in the town.

Some villagers accused the local police force and some municipal employees of protecting illegal chicken dung dealers by telling them to sell the dung in any place in the town contrary to the provisions of an approved ordinance which identifies Barangay Shilan as the supposed selling area of the supposed organic fertilizer.

Despite numerous complaints filed by local residents and legitimate chicken dung dealers for the local government to regulate the business, the municipal government has continually ignored such concerns since the illegal chicken dung dealers still sell their products along the Halsema highway within the jurisdiction of the locality.