CEPMO lauds barangays with zero hograisers
The City Environment and Parks Management Office (CEPMO) commended eight barangays in the city for achieving a zero hog-raising activity by residents in their areas of jurisdiction as of January 10, 2024.
Barangays Pinsao Pilot, Holyghost Extension, Leonila Hill, Ambiong, Brookspoint, Dizon-Manzanillo, Happy Homes and Pinget were able to comply with the city government’s ban on hog-raising and closure of piggeries.
CEPMO Head Atty. Rhenan Diwas hopes other barangays with home based hog-raising activities will cease their operations as well since piggeries are not allowed in highly urbanized cities like Baguio as per the city’s Environment Code, Republic Act 8749 or the Clean Air Act, Republic Act 9275 or the Philippine Water Act and Republic Act 9904 or the Magna Carta for Homeowners and Homeowners Associations.
Residents who continue to violate laws and regulations prohibiting hog-raising in the city will be sanctioned with the demolition of pigpens, confiscation of hogs and filing of criminal charges.
Sanitary Engineer Sofronio Pascua of CEPMO explained that even with septic tanks as a repository of pigpen refuse, the city implemented a total ban on hog-raising since the city sewer facility can only process domestic waste not industrial waste.
“Once the piggery septic tank is full, where will they dump it, naturally through the river and this is an environmental hazard,” Pascua said.
Previous reports from environmental agencies claimed Baguio’s rivers contain high forms of coliform which was later deduced to open sewer discharge as well as hog-raising activities near easements and tributaries of water bodies.
The city however, did not abandon backyard hog-raisers from their source of livelihood since alternative livelihood programs were being implemented by the city government through the City Veterinary and Agriculture Office and other line agencies such as rabbitry, livestock farming, hydroponics and vegetable farming.
Before the city implemented the total closure of piggeries in 2020, the city’s piggery population was at more than 700. The number dwindled to more than 200 towards the deadline set by the city in January 2020.
CEPMO continues to monitor and issue closure notices to a number that still insist on operating 27 barangays out of the 128 barangays in the city. – JMPS
