ILOILO — Tigbauan’s Mayor Virgilio “Nene” Teruel has rejected accusations that the municipal government ignored residents’ year-long complaints against a poultry farm, saying the local government unit (LGU) repeatedly inspected the facility and even formed a special team to monitor possible environmental violations.
Teruel also appealed to officials of Barangay Linobayan to reconsider their decision to resign en masse effective Sept. 10, 2026, warning that their departure should not disrupt basic government services and prejudice the welfare of residents.
“Indi na ya matuod nga waay sing may ginhimu ang LGU-Tigbauan,” Teruel said Thursday, Aug. 27, as he publicly laid out the municipal government’s actions on complaints against the poultry farm in neighboring Barangay Sipitan.
Barangay officials and residents have complained of foul odor and swarms of flies allegedly coming from the poultry operation.
Teruel said that after receiving the complaints in 2025, he personally visited the area several times to validate the residents’ concerns and assess possible measures the municipal government could take.
“Naghambal sila nga isa na ka tuig nga reklamo wala sang may ginhimu. That’s impossible. Kadamo na di. Siguro ako gani, siling ko at least I could remember, mga four to five times nagkadto gid ko to ya,” Teruel said.
He said he also created a Joint Inspectorate Team (JIT) composed of representatives from the Municipal Agriculture Office, Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office and Rural Health Unit to monitor the poultry farm’s operations.
“Naghimu gid kita sang special inspection team para mag-monitor sang operations sang poultry farm sa Sipitan para mabal-an ta gid kon ano bala, para mahimoan sang appropriate nga action. So, indi na ya matuod nga waay sing may ginhimu ang LGU-Tigbauan,” Teruel said.
The inspection team subsequently submitted a report to the mayor describing the odor detected in the area as “minimal.”
“Indi ko mahambal nga indi ko pagpatihan ang akon team. Siempre official nga report ina mo. Ti, siguro iba ila nga panan-aw ukon basi mahambal sila nga sila to ang naga-istar mo. Bal-an mo ang team naton makatinir to three to four hours or five hours at most. Nataboan nga basi wala na sila to kag may malanghap nga daw baho ang mga residente. Ti, amo na sigurado ang nagakatabo,” Teruel explained.
The mayor said he had no reason to believe that members of the inspection team would falsify their findings.
During a series of meetings with barangay officials and residents, Teruel said he asked complainants to provide valid grounds and actual evidence that would allow the municipal government to take appropriate action.
He stressed that the LGU must protect public order, safety and health while at the same time observing due process for the poultry farm operator.
Teruel also denied speculation that he personally knew the owner of the poultry farm before the controversy.
“I don’t have personal knowledge or prior knowledge. The only time we met was sang nagpatawag kami meeting together with the residents kag officials sang Linobayan. Indi ko sila (owners) kilala,” he said.
RESIGNATION NOT THE SOLUTION
Meanwhile, Teruel said the municipal government respects the decision of Linobayan barangay officials to resign effective Sept. 10, whether their action is intended as a protest or for another reason.
“Pero I still hope nga kon puede lang tani nga ma-reconsider,” Teruel said.
Teruel maintained that resignation is not the solution to the controversy.
He said he is consulting the Municipal Local Government Operations Officer of Tigbauan on measures to ensure the continuity of Barangay Linobayan’s day-to-day operations and the delivery of services to residents should the resignations push through.
Among the options being explored is convincing some members of the barangay council not to resign so vacancies can eventually be filled.
Teruel said he would also personally reach out to the barangay officials./PN
