If negligence of owner is proven: PB member seeks closure of ‘fly-infested’ farms

CEBU, Philippines -  Provincial Board Member Grecilda “Gigi” Sanchez will recommend the closure of poultry farms in Asturias town once it is proven that there is gross negligence on the part of the owners that reportedly cause the infestation of flies.

Sanchez, who represents the third district, where Asturias belong, in the Provincial Board, expressed concern towards the health condition of the residents in the affected barangays namely Agtugok, Bago, Bago Old, Langub, Looc, Lunas, and Poblacion.

“If in the event mahibaw-an sa atong team na moadto ngadto nga ang hinungdan sa pagdagsa sa mga langaw kay mao ang poultry labi nga mapamatud-an nga adunay gross negligence on the part of poultry owners, I would definitely recommend for closure,” said Sanchez.

Some residents have been complaining of falling ill because of the presence of flies, pointing the operation of poultry farms as the source of the infestation.

Sanchez plans to create her own team to look into all possible causes of the flies’ infestation. She further said that she would raise this recommendation to Vice Go-vernor Agnes Magpale and other provincial board members.

Governor   Hilario  Davide III said he has yet to receive a report from the Provincial Health Office regarding the results of the investigation to come up with a directive on the matter.

“Let the local government act on it. Adunay authority ang LGU to close a business if it is harmful to the residents there,” he said.

Meanwhile, Asturias Mayor Allan Adlawan said politics is behind the complaints on “fly-infestation” in the town.

“Naa gyoy dautang tuyo. Naa gyoy nagpaluyo,” Adlawan told The Freeman.

He denied the presence of swarm of flies in some barangays in the town, saying that the flies being photographed and were seen in the news were actually dead.

The mayor said personnel from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and Department of Agriculture and entomologists have already checked the areas.

“Maghuwat pa mi sa result and recommendation sa nag-inspection but they initially said nga di man daw alarming (We will wait for the result, but they initially said that the situation is not alarming)” he added.

The town is already taking precautionary measures even before the recommendation will be made, Adlawan said.

He said the town is already working with a method called “charring” to dry out chicken dung so it can be used as fertilizers and would not attract flies.

Sanchez, however, discounted the claim that politics is behind the infestation problem in Asturias, saying that it is “impossible.”

“Nganong mapolitika man ang langaw nga anybody in his right mind would disagree. How can somebody would be able to influence the flies? There is no way,” she stressed.

Provincial Agricul-  turist Roldan Saragena also refuted the claim that the young corns caused the swarms of flies that have pestered the town.

“Based on my experience, dili modugok ang mga langaw kun magbanay ang kamaisan. We will go there to find out unsa gyud ang hinungdan,” he said.

Provincial Veterina-rian III Louie Maestrado earlier explained that this month is the breeding season for flies which by nature, prefer to live in areas with high moisture such as poultry farms.

While these poultry farm owners were able to comply with the necessary requirements before being allowed to operate, he advised them to observe cleanliness and be responsible in disposing poultry wastes. —/NSA (FREEMAN)