The city government of Quezon City has banned piggeries and poultry farms in the city to protect the citizens from various health issues.
According to City Ordinance, 2290-2020, no piggery or poultry farms for the purposes of food or meat production should be allowed within the territorial jurisdiction of the city.
Fourteen out of 17 barangays that previously had backyard piggeries and poultry have already stopped their operations.
“As of today, there are only three barangays (Payatas, Sta. Lucia and Old Balara) with 26 piggeries. They vowed to close these down by November 2021,” Mayor Joy Belmonte said.
“Bago sila magsara, sisiguraduhin natin na mababawi nila ‘yung dapat nilang kita at bibigyan sila ng alternative na pangkabuhayan para magkaroon sila ng iba pang source of income para sa kanilang pamilya (Before they close, we will make sure that they get back their income and provide them with an alternative livelihood so that they can have another source of income for their families),”she added.
Backyard poultry and piggeries also tend to pollute tributaries because such businesses often allow waste to flow into riverways.
“Bilang alternative sa pangkabuhayan nila noon, binigyan natin ng livelihood options ang piggery owners. Sa ngayon, mayroon nang 118 recipients ng livelihood programs natin through our Small Business Cooperatives Development and Promotions Office (As an alternative to their livelihood then, we gave livelihood options to piggery owners. So far, we have 118 recipients of our livelihood programs through our Small Business Cooperatives Development and Promotions Office),” City Veterinary Department head Dr. Ana Marie Cabel said.
Empty pigpens and vacant lots are now used as fish pens and backyard fishponds where they can grow tilapia and hito.
Some hog raisers were given electronic tricycles from the Department of Public Order and Safety (DPOS) as an alternative livelihood.