Tigbauan suspends poultry farm over foul odor complaints

By Mariela Angella Oladive

ILOILO CITY – The local government unit (LGU) of Tigbauan has ordered GT Poultry Farm in Barangay Sipitan to suspend operations immediately following persistent complaints from residents about foul odors and fly infestations in surrounding areas.

Tigbauan Mayor Virgilio Teruel issued the Order of Suspension of Operations on Aug. 28, citing the complaints, particularly from residents of neighboring Barangay Linobayan, and the findings of the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) Region 6.

The EMB is the agency attached to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources that sets and enforces pollution control and environmental compliance standards for regulated facilities.

According to the order, GT Poultry Farm had not fully complied with some mitigating measures recommended by the EMB.

The order directed the poultry facility to “suspend and stop operations effective immediately.”

The farm may resume operations only after meeting conditions set by the municipal government.

One condition requires the issuance of an EMB certification confirming that GT Poultry Farm has fully complied with sanitation and environmental protection rules, particularly measures intended to control or minimize foul odors and fly infestations.

The LGU Special Composite Team must also certify, after a thorough inspection and validation, that the farm has complied with Tigbauan’s sanitation regulations and that no foul odors or fly infestations are observed in the area.

GT Poultry Farm is required to give the LGU team unhampered access to its facilities for inspection and monitoring.

The order also requires the settlement of existing legal disputes with residents of Barangay Linobayan and the fulfillment of other conditions in the interest of public health, order, and safety.

These conditions include conducting public consultations with residents of Barangays Sipitan and Linobayan.

The Municipal Health Office, Business Permit and Licensing Office, Municipal Agriculture Office, and Tigbauan Municipal Police Station were directed to serve and implement the order.

While the suspension immediately halts the poultry farm’s operations, Linobayan officials said they are seeking a permanent solution.

In a statement posted on its Facebook page Aug. 30, the barangay government reiterated its appeal for the permanent closure of GT Poultry Farm.

“This is only a suspension—not a solution,” the barangay said, stressing that residents need a lasting resolution to a problem it said continues to affect their health, comfort, and well-being.

The barangay also vowed to continue raising residents’ concerns until they are properly heard and addressed.

The statement came after all nine Linobayan barangay officials submitted irrevocable resignation letters to the municipal government on Aug. 26 over the unresolved poultry farm issue.

Their resignations are set to take effect Sept. 10.

Under Section 82 of the Local Government Code, the resignation of a barangay official takes effect upon acceptance by the city or municipal mayor.

The dispute has been ongoing since June 2025, when Linobayan residents and barangay officials first raised the complaints.

The Tigbauan LGU responded by conducting an inspection, which described the odor observed at the time as “minimal,” but the complaints persisted.

GT Poultry Farm later filed a civil case against some Linobayan officials and residents for injunction and damages, with an application for a writ of preliminary prohibitory injunction.

The municipal government had already ordered the farm to suspend operations on June 19, 2026, but the order was lifted a few days later after the operator sought permission to complete one growing cycle, citing a batch of chicks that had already been purchased, according to Iloilo First District Rep. Janette Garin.

The temporary arrangement was set to end July 23, but the dispute resurfaced after another batch of chicks was reportedly brought into the farm on Aug. 24, Garin said.