Going Green

DENR Orders Suspension of Piggeries, Poultry Farms Polluting Laguna Lake

THEY HAD IT COMING. With the violation of Republic Act 9003 or the “Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000,” piggeries and poultry farms that were found polluting Laguna Lake were suspended by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on Friday.

While at the inauguration of the DENR’s new regional office building in Calabarzon, Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu issued the directive to the Laguna Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO).

“I want to know where the wastes are coming from, especially the discharge from the piggeries, and to cancel all their Environment Compliance Certificates (ECCs),” he said.

Cimatu also said that he was surprised to learn that around 20 towns and five component cities along the lake’s shorelines have poultry farms and piggeries with no water treatment facilities. These farms have been dumping animal wastes directly into the water.

“We have to be assertive in our fight. Let us not pollute our rivers and Laguna Lake,” said the DENR chief in Filipino.

Polluted Rivers

In addition to that, Cimatu was made aware of the wastes and pollutants found in San Cristobal River, which is one of the 14 major rivers and tributaries that flow into the Laguna Lake. The said wastes allegedly come from its upstream San Juan River in Sto. Tomas and Tanauan City.

Laguna PENRO conducted quality testing to the waters of the San Cristobal River. They found out that the river contain 20 million coliform bacteria.

“I am very particular about the outfalls to make sure that all the out-falls in Laguna are your responsibility,” Cimatu said.

Both the Laguna and Batangas PENRO were tasked to identify the level of coliform contaminants from the San Cristobal River and San Juan River and to clean them as well as the esteros and canals that flow into these rivers.

The Environment Management Bureau Region 4A was also asked to take samples from the out-falls from Laguna Lake. Both the PENRO and CENRO were urged by the DENR chief to coordinate with the local government units and volunteers in the clean-up drive.

Undersecretary for Strategic Communications Benny Antiporda clarified in an interview that the DENR cannot just issue a cease and desist order (CDOs) to establishments that pollute bodies of water.

“If these have not been confirmed, we do not indiscriminately issue the CDOs. What we do is to check it well kung ma-mitigate nila yung problema, gagawan natin ng paraan. Pero doon naman sa talagang nagbibigay ng sobrang pollution, (if they would be able to mitigate the problem, and we have to find the solution. But for those that are really discharging extreme pollutants), we will act on it,” Antiporda said.

If they want to get back to business, Antiporda said the poultry farms and piggeries should come up with their waste management measures. He also assured the public that the suspension of the poultry farms and piggeries will not affect the supply of pork and chicken in the market.

“But we need to take care of our environment and businessmen should shape up or else, they will be shut down,” he warned.

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