The operations of a poultry farm in Barangay Bacungan, Puerto Princesa City, owned by businessman Jose Ang Pe, were temporarily halted following an ocular inspection and a tri-committee meeting of the Committee on Environment, Health, and Agriculture on January 21 in the area.
City Councilor Elgin Damasco, chair of the Sangguniang Panlungsod Committee on Environment, said clear violations were found at the poultry farm, which the owner also admitted, including the lack of complete required documents.
During the meeting, which was attended by affected residents, barangay officials, and representatives of various government agencies, it was revealed that the businessman only holds a business permit and a non-compliance certificate from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
Pe also admitted that since the poultry farm began operating, it has had no sanitary permit and that he was unaware that a Strategic Environmental Plan (SEP) Clearance from the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD) was required, especially since the farm houses up to 10,000 chickens in two facilities.
Because of this, Damasco said the council would no longer pursue a resolution if Pe agrees to temporarily stop operations until all required documents for the business are completed, a condition the businessman accepted and committed to fulfill.
“Maliwanag, Mr. Pe, na mayroong violation. Hindi kami magre-recommend sa ngayon ng Cease and Desist Order kasi nag-invest ka rin. Gusto ka naming bigyan ng pagkakataon na maayos ang permit mo,” Damasco said during the tri-committee meeting.
“Habang inaasikaso mo ang iyong SEP Clearance, ang aming pakiusap, hindi na kami gagawa ng resolusyon para hilingin sa PCSD na maglabas ng Cease and Desist Order laban sa iyong poultry farm. Ang pakiusap namin, at bilang chairman ng Committee on Environment, stop operation muna,” he added.
The three committees also directed Pe to temporarily relocate or remove his chickens to address complaints from residents in the area.
In recent weeks, affected residents and several business owners from Sitio Maranat 2 and 3 in Barangay Bacungan had come together to complain about the reported surge of flies entering their homes and establishments.
Residents sought the assistance of the city government to stop the poultry farm’s operations, which they said had been a problem for several years.
With their complaint now addressed, residents expressed their gratitude to members of the City Council for acting quickly on their concerns.
