Officials of Baguio, barangay officials and select residents of San Pascual, Tuba, Benguet, are set to visit modern piggeries in Concepcion, Tarlac and Mangatarem, Pangasinan in January 2020.
During the Dec. 13 public consultation at the San Pascual barangay hall, officials of Baguio and San Pascual agreed to visit the Charoen Pokphand Food’s (CPF) piggery in Concepcion, and Mangatarem.
CPF representative Engr. Emil Mangera assured residents of San Pascual that since the Thailand-based CPF farms began operating in the Philippines in 2008, standards for a pollution-free hog-raising project have been followed. “Our pig farms are community and environment-friendly, with bio-security, climate control system, waste management and water treatment facilities,” Mangera said.
The city government of Baguio is planning to relocate piggeries in San Pascual after owners were ordered early this year to stop operation after the Department of Environment and Natural Resources said piggeries cannot operate in highly-urbanized areas. The agency said these piggeries are the major source of pollution of the Balili and Ambalanga rivers.
Before the hog raisers were ordered to halt operations, the Department of Agriculture allotted P10 million for their relocation, apart from the technical assistance of the City Veterinary Office, City Engineers Office, and the City Building and Architecture Office.
Mangera said CPF has an underground treatment facility which converts waste to biogas. He said the power output produced from the biogas is used for the farm’s operation. Desludging is also done weekly, Mangera said.
For waste water, the liquid undergoes 45 to 60 days natural treatment in three high density polyethelyne plastic covered by interconnected tank pits. After 60 days, the liquid would have produced enough nitrogen, which can then be reused for fishpond, but not for animal or human consumption.
The piggery building, located in a one-hectare fenced area is surrounded by plants for air and water absorption.
Last month, Mayor Benjamin Magalong and Engr. Francis Cuyop, owner of a 100,000 square meter property in San Pascual signed a usufruct agreement for a city piggery project.
Two piggery facilities within the proposed area are expected to house 1,200 hogs with harvest at least twice a year.
City-based hog-raisers through the Baguio Animal Raisers cooperative led by Julie Mangigil were present during the forum, including representatives of the CEO, CVO, CBAO and the City Social Welfare and Development Office. – Julie G. Fianza
