Piggery given 30 days to address environmental concerns
The task force created to conduct investigation on the cause of water contamination in the water supply from the Jordan Water District has given the Uswag Foundation piggery 30 days to comply with the conditions set forth on its Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC).
Jordan Mayor Cresente Chavez Jr. said the Uswag Foundation piggery situated at Barangay Igbantang Sta. Teresa, Jordan was given ample time to initiate corrective measures in their piggery. They have until the end of the month to meet the requirement. The decision was reached after the task force's recent inspection.
The task force is composed of representatives from the municipal government, water sanitation sector, Sangguniang Bayan and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). In its February 3 inspection report, the task force found health hazards and irregularities in the piggery’s operation.
Chavez said they are hoping that Uswag will comply with the requirements set by the municipal health office and the environment department. Though, the water supply has already resumed in affected areas and yet town mayor wants Uswag to immediately act in accordance with the conditions provided in their ECC.
The task force found that there are more or less 10 dead piglets inside the First Lagon (treatment facility). It created foul odor and became a breeding place for live worms and flies.
They also found out that there was no business permit issued in the newly-constructed piggery farm and its personnel present at the site have no copies of important documents for their operation.
The waste water from the piggery and its unauthorized discharges in the Bulwangan Creek is the primary factor considered by the task force which contaminated the water supply in Barangay Ravina.
In the water bacteriology result conducted by the Central Philippine University water analysis laboratory, the samples taken from the Bulwangan Spring was found positive for E.coli bacteria. The result showed there is a presence of 10 colony forming units (CFU) in 1 ml of water.
The water analysis also yielded negative result for the water samples taken from Cueva Spring in Barangay Rizal. The Jordan Water District immediately cut down the water distribution in affected areas to avoid health problems among its concessionaires.