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LEYTE, Philippines (UPDATED) – Several barangays of Ormoc City have been hit by fly infestation since May 13, according to city health officials.
Barangay Captain Emmanuel Mata said that Purok 1, 2, 3, and 4 in Catmon village were affected by the fly infestation.
“The most common diseases that they would get from the fly infestation are typhoid and diarrhea,” said Dr Edmund Kieruf, chief of the Ormoc City Health Department.
According to a complaint report by the city’s Enviroment and Natural Resources Office (ENRO), Catmon village Councilor Patricio Laude on Tuesday, May 21, objected to the foul odor and fly infestation which allegedly came from the farm owned by Ronnie Vinluan.
Alicia Laurente told ENRO in an interview that the fly infestation started on Wednesday, May 13.
Families from this barangay reported that they were suffering from diarrhea since May 13.
“Fly infestation generally [occurs] during harvest (time of poultries )… Some flies start to come in and lay eggs on the chicken manure. As a form of mitigating measure, the owner or caretaker automatically apply pesticides or insecticides to kill fly eggs and larvae and prevent fly infestation,” ENRO head Rafael Junnar Dumalan said.
Dumalan told Rappler that Vinluan blamed the infestation to the fake pesticide he purchased. The bogus chemical failed to eradicate the fly larvae leading to the infestation.
Commenting to the procurement of the counterfeit pesticide, Gomez said, “That gives no reason for us not to close them if infestations persist.”
“To avoid closure, the farm owner or operators must be prudent in their mitigating measures during harvest, comply with all the environmental permits or certificates, and all LGU issued permits…” Dumalan said.
‘Comply or close’
Ormoc City Mayor Richard Gomez, who recently won reelection, has sent warning letters to Rovins-1 Poultry in Catmon village on Wednesday, May 22, containing recommended actions against fly infestation and foul odor that pose health risks to residents.
Ormoc City ENRO gave Vinluan, the owner of the errant poulty, a notice to comply until Wednesday, May 29. Vinluan’s farm was told to immediately “harvest the remaining chickens and apply pesticide through fogging.”
“If they cannot comply within the specified time, they will be ordered to be close down for health and sanitation reasons,” Gomez told Rappler.
A site verification and inspection will be conducted by ENRO on Wednesday, May 29, to assess if the farm followed the recommendations.
Rappler tried to get Vinluan’s statement through his farm secretary Lilian Balena but they couldn’t be reached.
Gomez also told Rappler that he called all poultry operators, suppliers, and distributors for a meeting on Monday, May 27.
“I will be giving them an ultimatum to keep their businesses clean otherwise I will close them down,” Gomez said.
Local environment officials will also begin checking on Monday, May 27, other nearby barangays reporting fly infestations in their areas. – Rappler.com
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