ILOILO — First District’s Cong. Janette Garin has urged the Tigbauan municipal government to stop a poultry farm in Barangay Linobayan from operating — even temporarily — until it completes its permits and other regulatory requirements, as the controversy that prompted barangay officials to resign continues to deepen.
Garin said information she obtained from the Tigbauan local government and the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) Region 6 showed that GT Poultry Farm has yet to complete requirements that include a business permit and discharge permit.
The lawmaker said the status of the land on which the poultry farm stands also remains subject to confirmation and validation as to whether it had been converted from agricultural to commercial or industrial use.
“I appeal to the LGU nga kon indi pa man kumpleto, wara sila discharge permit, wara sila permit to operate, ongoing. Maghambal nga ongoing wara pa natapos. Kung wara man re-classification kang anda nga lupa, kung wara man ina na-convert pa sang DAR, all the handwriting are on the wall. Dyan gid ang mga basihan para indi anay mag-operate ang poultry. It’s not a matter of life and death para sa tag-iya, it’s a matter of them complying. Kabay pa nga masolusyonan ini kay daw indi gid manami,” Garin said in an official statement released through Facebook Live on Friday afternoon, Aug. 28.
The poultry farm is owned by Dr. Maricor Borra of Maasin, Iloilo, Garin added.
The congresswoman stressed that investors are welcome in the 1st District because they generate jobs and revenues for local governments, but businesses must remain open to dialogue when communities raise legitimate concerns.
She also criticized the filing of a civil case by the poultry farm against Barangay Captain Rene Taño, barangay councilors Efren Tayag and Rico Taño, and 17 other residents or households.
“Paano mo pa-untaton ang mga opisyales sang barangay nga dara lang nanda ang limog ka anda nga mga pumoluyo? So, ikaw ya negosyante nga ang gusto mo man mangin responsable nga negosyante, kon may ara nga i-convey ang barangay, dapat atubangon, indi pagpahugon. I’m sorry sa tag-iya sang poultry pero halin kang natabo rigya, ang amon paglantaw, I hope I am wrong but apparently it is appearing that instead nga atubangon ang reklamo kang taga-barangay nga may rason, daw sila pa ang gina-harass. Amo gid dya ang matuod-tuod,” Garin said.
Dr. Borra could not be reached for comment as of this writing.
EMB FINDINGS
Garin said the dispute dates back to June 2025, when barangay officials and residents began complaining about the poultry operation.
She said Taño approached her in June 2026 and informed her that the Tigbauan municipal government and EMB-6 had already conducted several inspections of the poultry farm.
Documents Garin obtained from EMB-6 identified several matters requiring corrective action, including the mortality pit area, which should be flattened and compacted and properly covered; the canal carrying chicken manure, which should be covered; the installation of a perimeter fence around the water canal; and the application of powdered lime and chlorine to control odor.
“Wala kuno violation. Indi na ya matuod because ang proof kang violation ang sulat sang EMB-6 nga may i-comply. In fairness, may mga gin-comply man pero ang iban ongoing pa. Wara pa discharge permit ang poultry. Wara pa sia permit to operate. In other words, kung basihan ta ang darwa ka laye, ang Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act wara pa ina ya ma-comply kang GT poultry. It is still ongoing, it is still under process. In other words, wara man or its not a matter of life and death,” Garin said.
She maintained that the controversy could have been addressed more easily had the poultry farm been more receptive to the residents’ concerns and completed the requirements being sought by authorities.
“Instead nga pamatian ang reklamo kag instead nga i-comply, ang ginapa-comply sang LGU para may social acceptability ang ila poultry, ginkasohan pa ang mga barangay officials, kon magreklamo kasohan. Ano ina ya. Dr. Maricor Borra maluoy ka man. Naga kasohan mo gid? Sukton mo pa kang damages? I don’t want to pre-judge pero sa mga abogado, maintindihan niyo man kon ano ang buot hambalon sina ya,” Garin said.
SUSPENSION LIFTED AFTER FIVE DAYS
Garin said that after seeing no concrete action despite the complaints having persisted for about a year, she discussed the issue with the Tigbauan municipal government led by Mayor Virgilio Teruel in June.
“There was an order of suspension of operation issued by the Mayor on June 19, 2026. Ini ya ginhatag kanakon kang banwa kag nalipay gid ako. Hambal ko mayor raku gid salamat nga gin-suspend ta ang operation,” she said.
But Garin said she later learned from EMB-6 that the poultry farm resumed operations only five days after the suspension order was issued.
According to her, the farm owner appealed to the municipal government to temporarily lift the suspension on humanitarian grounds because a batch of chicks had already been purchased and was about to arrive.
“Nag-ayu ang tag-iya ka poultry kay mayor nga for humanitarian consideration may mga piso run sila nabakal kag manog-abot run nga basi kon pwede tugtan sila nga maski temporary lang nga atong suspension i-lift temporary for one growing cycle. In fairness to the barangay officials sang Linobayan, paghambal ni mayor nga humanitarian consideration maski kontra man sa buot nanda, ang anda agreement okay. Mapasugot kami, ang importante lang i-maintain ang cleanliness,” Garin said.
The poultry farm was consequently allowed to operate temporarily for one growing cycle, which was supposed to have ended on July 23.
However, Garin said anger among barangay residents was reignited after the poultry farm owner allegedly loaded another batch of chicks on Aug. 24.
Garin said EMB-6 is expected to issue its recommendation concerning the poultry farm this week./PN
