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‘MANY PEOPLE GETTING SICK AND TIRED Green Youth Brigade backs PGKM against polluters in Porac

ANGELES CITY – “This has to stop. Heads should roll.”

This was the reaction of environmental group Green Youth Brigade (GYB) in connection with the 20-year-old air pollution problem blamed on huge piggeries and poultries in Porac town.

“We support the PGKM (Pinoy Gumising Ka Movement), the Lola Kontra Amoy and Bishop Ambo [David], as well as organizations, communities, and individuals that work for a healthy and sustainable environment. The Green Youth Brigade understands the interconnectedness of the piggery/poultry issues to the environment,” said GYB head Louie Reyes, a former city councilor here.

“Many people are getting sick and tired,” he added.

Reyes’ group joined the PGKM, David and other environmentalists in an eight-kilometer protest action against polluters in Porac recently.

He said they will continue to exert stronger pressure on the government to strictly implement environmental laws, hold legal and mass actions against institutions whether public or private that tolerate violations of environmental laws, citing the case of poultries and piggeries in Porac town.

Meanwhile, city councilor Jay Sangil and former councilor Ruben Maniago reiterated their call urging homeowners and subdivision to make a clear stand against the polluting firms saying “it affects our communities, particularly the health of our children.”

“Almost every night yung foul odor and smell pumapasok sa mga kabahayan natin. Let’s put our acts together,” Sangil said in a text message.

Members of the GYB who live in Porac also lamented that people from neighboring towns and city, including tourists, have branded Porac as “mabahong lugar”.

“Hindi po namin alam bakit hindi ito masolusyunan ng aming mga opisyales dito, kaya siguro hindi umaasenso ang Porac,” said the two GYB members who refused to named fearing reprisal.

Reyes also said that the Environmental Management Bureau’s (EMB) move of issuing a notice of violation against PGKM chair Ruperto Cruz, owner of Royal Garden Golf and Country Club, is a form of blackmail and harassment.”

“The Green Youth Brigade is saddened by the move of the EMB for serving a notice of violation to Cruz hours after the protest rally last September 22 at the Porac Municipal Hall. This would only spark more conflict to a sad state of dialogue between EMB and PGKM,” he said in a statement.

Reyes said the “the timing is bad” and that EMB’s move would only provoke more confrontation.

“If we can remember, after the stage rally, EMB regional director Lormelyn E. Claudio invited Cruz and Bishop David on October 4, 1:00 p.m. at the EMB office to see the results or findings of their tests (piggeries and poultries who are compliant or non-compliant). Then, only to realize a few hours, a notice of violation is sent to Mr. Cruz’s golf course,” Reyes said.

Various environmental groups and visual artists earlier joined the GYB in urging Gov. Lilia Pineda and Pampanga mayors to help protect the environment from further degradation caused by polluters.

By Joey Aguilar

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