ILOILO – The entire leadership of Barangay Linobayan in Tigbauan town has temporarily put its mass resignation on hold following the intervention of 1st District’s Cong. Janette Garin, but the officials stressed that they have not withdrawn their resignation as they await further action on a poultry farm blamed for persistent foul odor and fly infestation.
Barangay Captain Rene Taño confirmed to Panay News on Friday, September 11, that Garin personally went to Linobayan on Thursday and appealed to barangay officials to remain in office to prevent disruption of basic government services, including the issuance of certifications and maintenance of peace and order.
“Yes, confirmed nga nag-extend kami…because ma-utod ang mga services nga mahatag sang barangay, likewise sa mga certification, and then ang matabo bala nga peace and order…Madamo sang matabo kon wala sang barangay officials ang Linobayan,” Taño said.
The resignations were originally supposed to take effect on September 10.
Taño said there is no definite period for how long the officials will maintain the status quo, as they are closely watching developments involving GT Poultry Farm in neighboring Barangay Sipitan.
Residents of Linobayan have complained of foul odor and a proliferation of flies allegedly coming from the poultry facility.
Taño and barangay council members Efren Tayag, Johnny Vale, Rico Taño, Leticia Tresplacios, Letecia Tasic, Mary Rose Agapay-Sagala and Joesa Mae Mendez, along with Sangguniang Kabataan chairman EJelyn Claire Casio, submitted their resignation letters to the office of Mayor Virgilo Teruel on August 26 over the municipal government’s perceived inaction on their concerns over the poultry farm.
Garin, in an interview with Aksyon Radyo Iloilo on Friday, confirmed that she personally asked the officials to reconsider immediately stepping down.
She said Teruel had also not accepted their resignation letters because several barangay projects still have to be completed and Linobayan needs the representation of its elected officials, particularly its barangay captain.
“Nag-ayu ako kay Kap nga kon puede makapadayun lang anay. Indi man daad tana pero nag-ayu ako. Nag-accede man sia. For now, status quo lang anay ang tanan kay mas mayad ga masolbar kag ma-istoryahan ang problema nga less ang nuisances kumbaga,” Garin said.
Meanwhile, operations of GT Poultry Farm remain suspended after Teruel’s August 28 suspension order has yet to be lifted.
The mayor issued the order following continuing complaints from residents and findings by the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) Region 6 that some recommended mitigating measures had not been fully implemented.
“Acting on more and persistent complaints of foul odor and fly infestation by residents of areas surrounding your poultry facility, particularly residents of adjoining Barangay Linobayan, and taking into consideration the findings of the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), Region 6 that some of the mitigating measures it recommended have not yet been fully complied with by GTPF, you are hereby ordered to suspend and stop operations effective Immediately,” part of Teruel’s order read.
Under the order, GT Poultry Farm may be allowed to resume operations only after the EMB certifies that it has fully complied with sanitation and environmental protection regulations, particularly measures aimed at controlling or minimizing foul odor and fly infestation.
The LGU Special Composite Team must also certify, following inspection and validation, that the poultry farm has strictly complied with Tigbauan’s sanitation regulations and that no foul odor or fly infestation is observed in the area.
The company is also required to allow the LGU team unrestricted access to its facilities for inspection and monitoring.
Other conditions include the settlement of existing legal disputes with residents of Barangay Linobayan and compliance with additional measures deemed necessary to protect public health, order and safety, including possible public consultations with residents of Barangays Sipitan and Linobayan./PN
