Nun complains vs pig, poultry farms in Angeles City

ANGELES CITY, Philippines – A nun of the Dominican Sisters of Our Lady of Remedies in Porac, Pampanga, has assailed big poultry farms and piggeries in the town for emitting a foul smell that cause respiratory and skin diseases to special children under their care. "Children under our care suffer respiratory and skin diseases due to the foul smell," said Lettyham Espritu during a recent meeting with officers of the Kruzada para sa Kalinisan ng Kapaligiran Inc. (KKK) at the Grand Palazzo Royale in Barangay Cut-Cut here. She also said that children sometimes wake up crying after smelling the foul odor. Espiritu is one of the nuns who take care of more than 20 special children at the Holy Trinity La Sinura in Barangay La Sinura, which is just beside Barangay Sta. Cruz where the piggeries and poultry farms operate. She said that they "can't even pray well due to the foul smell emitted by the piggeries." "The diseases that children now suffer could be caused by the foul smell we endure everyday," said Espiritu who has stayed at the Holy Trinity La Sinura since 2001. Meanwhile, piggery and poultry owners cannot be reached for comments. Five major poultries and their respective owners in Sta. Cruz include Marson Farm (Johnson Dycaico), Select Farm (William Go), Greenfield Farm (Janet Tiulian), Logo Farm (Baby Go), and Sta. Cruz Farm (Rey Bautista). "In Porac, it would seem that poultry and piggery owners love the chickens and pigs more than people," said Pinoy Gumising Ka Movement (PGKM) Chairman Ruperto "Perto" Cruz. At the meeting on July 18, the groups vowed to a file class suit against the poultry and piggery owners and to initiate recall proceedings against negligent barangay officials. Citing the Local Government Code, the groups said the barangay captain is mandated to "enforce laws and regulations relating to pollution control and protection of the environment." The KKK said in their petition filed on June 27 addressed to Mayor Roger Santos, "Our complaint regarding air and water pollution started in 1989 but concerned government agencies have yet to consider it." "Due to our petition, our group, the DENR, farm owners, the health officer of Porac and our barangay entered an agreement regarding the prevention and avoidance of air and water pollution in our locality," said Tamayo. She said that farm owners do not follow what was stated in the agreement. "The bad odor is getting worse each day." - Joey Aguilar, GMANews.TV