ILOILO – A temporary shutdown is not enough.
Barangay officials and residents of Linobayan, Tigbauan are pressing for the permanent closure of GT Poultry Farm, rejecting as inadequate the municipal government’s latest suspension of its operations over persistent complaints of foul odor and fly infestation.
The renewed demand came after Mayor Virgilio Teruel ordered the poultry farm in neighboring Barangay Sipitan to immediately stop operations amid continuing complaints from surrounding communities and findings by the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) Region 6 that some recommended mitigating measures had yet to be fully implemented.
The controversy had earlier driven all barangay officials of Linobayan to resign in protest.
“This is only a suspension — not a solution. We continue to appeal for the permanent closure of the poultry farm. Our community deserves a lasting solution, not a temporary relief from a problem that continues to affect the health, comfort, and well-being of our residents,” the barangay officials said in a statement.
“The people’s health and welfare must always come first,” they added.
Barangay Kagawad Efren Tayag said another temporary suspension would accomplish little if the poultry farm were eventually allowed to reopen.
“Permanent closure ang amon gusto,” Tayag told Aksyon Radyo Iloilo.
Tayag recalled that the Tigbauan municipal government had already suspended the poultry farm’s operations on June 19, 2026, only to allow it to resume five days later after the management appealed on humanitarian grounds because chicks had already been purchased.
IMMEDIATE SUSPENSION
Teruel issued the latest suspension order on Aug. 28 against GT Poultry Farm, whose owner has been identified by 1st District’s Cong. Janette Garin as Dr. Maricor Borra of Maasin, Iloilo.
“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.
The mayor said operations could resume only after the poultry farm satisfies several conditions.
Among these is an EMB certification that the facility has fully complied with sanitation and environmental protection regulations, particularly measures intended to control or minimize foul odor and fly infestation.
The Special Composite Team of the local government unit (LGU) of Tigbauan must also certify, following inspection and validation, that the farm has strictly complied with municipal sanitation regulations and that no foul odor or fly infestation is observed in the area.
The poultry farm must allow the LGU team unhampered access to its facilities for inspection and monitoring.
Other conditions include the settlement of existing legal disputes with Linobayan residents and compliance with measures necessary to protect public health, order and safety, including consultations with residents of Barangays Sipitan and Linobayan.
Teruel directed the Municipal Health Office, Business Permit and Licensing Office, Municipal Agriculture Office and Tigbauan Municipal Police Station to immediately serve and enforce the suspension order.
GARIN BACKS SUSPENSION
The LGU action followed an appeal from Cong. Garin to suspend the poultry farm until it fully complies with EMB-6 recommendations and secures necessary permits, including a discharge permit and business permit.
“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 Aug. 28.
Garin said the dispute dates back to June 2025, when barangay officials and residents began raising complaints against the poultry operation.
She said Barangay Captain Rene Taño approached her in June 2026 and informed her that the Tigbauan municipal government and EMB-6 had already conducted several inspections.
Documents obtained by Garin from EMB-6 identified several corrective measures, including flattening, compacting and properly covering the mortality pit area; covering the canal carrying chicken manure; installing a perimeter fence around the water canal; and applying 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 receptive to residents’ complaints and completed the requirements sought by authorities.
Panay News attempted to get the Borra family’s side in Maasin on Monday, Aug. 31, but no one was available at their residence.
As of press time, the family had yet to issue an official statement./PN
