Mayor gives final warning against Baguio hog raisers

By Gaby B. Keith

BAGUIO CITY -- Mayor Benjamin Magalong warned residents here who continue to violate laws and regulations prohibiting hog-raising in the city.
    The mayor's warning came after the discovery of several piggeries allegedly operating in Barangay Fairview during a joint inspection by personnel of the City Environment and Parks Management Office and City Veterinary and Agriculture Office.

     "This is the final warning, otherwise we will already file criminal charges against them (hog raisers)," he stressed. In a highly urbanized city like Baguio, hog-raising is not allowed by the city's Environment Code; Republic Act (RA) 8749 or the "Clean Air Act;" RA 9275 or the "Philippine Water Act" and RA 9904 or the "Magna Carta for Homeowners and Homeowners Association."
    He said there were around three thousand piggeries operating in the city during his first term as mayor and claimed the number went down by as much as 90 percent since then.
    Now in his second term as the city's chief executive, Magalong expressed exasperation that these piggeries are mushrooming all over the city once again.
    "They (hog-raisers) are polluting our rivers. They just don't care and only think of themselves. Even their neighbors are happy that these piggeries have been removed and their areas smell pleasant once more. Unfortunately, these piggeries are returning, that is why I will have these immediately confiscated," he said.