TACLOBAN CITY – Palompon, Leyte Mayor Ramon Oñate has expressed concern over the alleged dumping of over 50,000 chickens in a poultry farm in Sitio Canlutaw, Barangay Naghalin, Kananga, Leyte, recently.

The mayor has called on Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Maria Antonia Loyzaga, Health Secretary Ted Herbosa, and Bureau of Animal Industry Director Enrico Miguel Capulong to investigate and take appropriate measures to address the potential risks and prevent harm to the environment.

The official raised concerns about the proper handling and disposal of the carcasses at Leyte Poultry Development Corp., citing the reported unsanitary and improper disposal of dead chickens and contaminated garbage which may affect the health of humans.

"The sudden and extensive mortality rate among the chickens has raised fears that there is already an epidemic in the said area such as bird flu which may affect other poultry farms in neighboring municipalities such my town in Palompon, Leyte," the mayor stated.

He also feared the uncertainty of the exact burial location of the carcasses since it was difficult to find out whether the business owner had obtained the necessary permits for the area to prevent soil and water contamination risks.

"Per reliable reports, the distance of the said poultry from the build-up area such as schools, churches, and thriving communities is more than 400 meters which is in total violation of Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB) Resolution No. R-674 Series of 2000," he said.

The resolution states that "a poultry with a large classification should have at least 1,000 meters distance from build-up area."

He noted that said information was worth revisiting when they applied for an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) with the DENR.