Laoac Sangguniang Bayan led by Vice-Mayor Rogelio Godoy conducts committee hearing on VYNSEN Farms, Inc. –applicant for the operation of poultry farm in Brgy. Turko, Laoac, Pangasinan on June 2014 at the SB session hall.

Laoac, Pangasinan--LaoacSangguniang Bayan headed by Vice-Mayor Rogelio Godoy and its SangguniangBayan Members conducted committee hearing (SBM Olande- Chairman Com. On Environment, SBM Rolando Ramos- Com. On Laws and Ordinances) on the application of VYNSEN Farms, Inc.(Jose Nielsen S. Yuchongtian-owner) submitted on June 23,2014for favorable endorsement for issuance of Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in its proposed construction of a tunnel –ventilated type poultry facility in Barangay Turko, Laoac, Pangasinan. It is intended to house more than 10,000 heads hence is a large scale poultry project from built -up areas.
The SB Committee on Environment and Natural Resources after conducted several hearings it found out that the proposed projects site’s distance from the barangay road is 187 meters and its distance from residential house is 253 meters (North) 358 meters (Southeast) and 536 . Therefore, it violated Section 31 (b) of Municipal Ordinance No. 10-007,”2010 environmental Code of the Municipality of Laoac duly enacted on December 20, 2010 , xxx the structure of a livestock farm shall be at least 500 to 1,000 meters away from the built- up areas and 200 meters away from major roads or highways xxx. Section 4.A.2.2.3, Rule III. Medium and large –scale piggery and poultry farms shall be at least 1,000 meters from built-up areas (residential, commercial, institutional and industrial ) while small-scale poultry farms shall be at least 500 meters away from built-up areas. Additionally, VYNSEN Farms, Inc. violated the implementing rules and guidelines issued by the HLURB governing issuance of a locational clearance. Hence, VYNSEN Farms, Inc. application for endorsement to operate said poultry farm is denied.

 
 Meanwhile, Laoac Sangguniang Bayan questions the illegal construction of poultry farm thru the temporary presiding officer SBM Campos on June 9, 2014 in its regular session. Sangguniang Bayan Member Eleno Olande as Chairman of Committee on Environment delivered his privileged speech on the issue of an illegal construction of poultry farm with more or less six (6) buildings located at Brgy. Botigue adjacent boundaries of Brgy. Turko and Cabulalaan. With the manifestation of SBM Rolando Ramos –Majority Floor Leader called on the appearance of Engr. Castillo –Municipal Engineer to shed light on said construction. Engr. Albert Castillo stated “that the owner of said poultry is Engr. Alex Gacutan of Urdaneta City. Accordingly, he has issued a notice of illegal construction on May 15, 2014 received by Mr. Joel Peru representative of Engr. Gacutan copy furnished to Punong Barangay Ricardo Ochenang, Botigue, Laoac, Pangasinan. Such notice of illegal construction is in violation of Section 301 of the National Building Code (PD 1096) to stop immediately all illegal activities in the premises and Mr. Gacutan to contact the Municipal Engineering Office within 3 days from receipt. Subsequently a letter dated May 22, 2014 from Engr. Darwin Tagacay, Project Engr. Of Alber Farm requesting for an extension of time to submit the necessary documents for the issuance of building permit.
 

SBM AttyEdilynRebbugio asked Engr. Castillo, “what actions have you done to implement the National Building Code ?”“ I gave a copy of notice of illegal construction to the Chief of Police Edgar Gonzales after the good Mayor SilverioAlarcio instructed him to inquire into the said illegal construction , “ Engr. Castillo replied. SBM Rebugio commented that his office may recommend for the appropriate charges in violation of the National Building Code will suffice, thus, a resolution of the SB to that effect is unnecessary.
SBMs Rebugio , Ramos, Olande, Liga President JuaniloAlarcio, Jr. and others stated that the construction of said poultry farm may violate Section 31 of the Municipal Environment Code requirements, to wit; a) good drainage system; b) structure of livestock farm shall be at least 500 to 1000 meters away from the buildup areas and 200 meters away from major roads or highways; c) require to plant trees, etc. Additionally, Liga President Alarcio, Jr. commented that if appropriately apprise of the situation, the good mayor may issue cease and desist order on continuing construction of the poultry farm. As of this date, such construction has been temporarily stopped.
 
According to SBM Atty. EdilynRebugio, “ I cannot compromise the provision of section 31(b) of Municipal Ordinance No.10-007,2010 Environmental Code of the Municipality of Laoac. It would open the gate for dangerous precedence if this provision is not strictly implemented as applied to VYNSEN Farms, Inc.if the new applicant (ALBER FARM owned by Mr. Gacutan) would be granted an exception to the aforementioned section 31 due to the presence or planting of trees or attributed to the trees surrounding the area which is almost 3 hectares to the proposed operation of a large scale poultry farm in Brgy. Botigue, Laoac, Pangasinan.