WHEREAS, Republic Act No. 4850, as amended by Presidential Decree No. 813 and Executive Order 927, empowers the Laguna Lake Development Authority to issue regulations when necessary to effectively carry out its mandate particularly with regard to the regulation of pollution within the Laguna de Bay Region;

WHEREAS, LLDA Board Resolution No. 41, Series of 1997 exempts backyard hog farms with a population of not  more than 100 heads or a sow level of not more than 20 heads from securing an LLDA clearance;

WHEREAS, the responsibility of regulating small scale backyard hog farms is routinely passed on to the various local government units which however lack the necessary expertise or the technical capability to undertake effective pollution control program as evidenced by the absence of clear policies governing backyard hog raising particularly the proper disposal and management of hog farm wastes;

WHEREAS, collectively, small hog farms contribute an even larger volume of pollution into the waste load of Laguna de Bay compared to large commercial hog farms; and

WHEREAS, considering the large volume of wastes emanating from small scale piggeries, there is a need to regulate the activities of all backyard hog farms within the Laguna de Bay Region to effectively and efficiently implement the “Pollution Control Law of the Philippines” otherwise known as Presidential Decree No. 984;

NOW THEREFORE, foregoing premises considered, BE IT RESOLVED, as it is hereby RESOLVED, to adopt the following Policy Guidelines Governing the operation of Backyard or Small Scale Hog Farms in the Laguna de Bay Region:

ARTICLE I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

SECTION 1.  Title.  These guidelines shall be known and cited as the “Policy Guidelines Governing the Operation of Backyard Piggeries or Small Scale Hog Farms in the Laguna de Bay Region.”

SECTION 2.  Statement of Policy.  The Laguna Lake Development Authority in accordance with its mandate which seeks to maintain the ecological integrity of the Laguna de Bay Region is cognizant of the collective contribution of backyard small scale hog farms to the pollution load of the Laguna Lake.  It is the policy of the LLDA to actively promote proven waste minimization and reduction technologies as well as waste recycling and reuse practices among small piggery or backyard hog farm owners in order to more effectively regulate pollution emanating from such farms.

SECTION 3. Scope and Coverage.  These guidelines shall apply to all backyard piggeries or small scale hog farms with an animal population of not more than 100 heads or a sow level of not more than 10 sows and operating within the Laguna de Bay Region.

SECTION 4. Definition of Terms.  The following terms, abbreviations and phrases, as used in these guidelines, shall have the following meaning:

q       Authority or LLDA means the Laguna Lake Development Authority

q       Waste Recycling/Reuse refers to the utilization of hog waste for other purposes e.g. fertilizer (solid), watering of plants (liquid), etc.

q       Waste Treatment refers to management techniques applied to reduce the pollution load coming from the backyard piggeries e.g. biogas technology, pelleting, etc.

q       Waste disposal refers to the final disposition of solid and liquid hog farm wastes. A common form of waste disposal is direct discharge of wastes into the rivers or creeks.

q       LGU refers to the Local Government Unit

q       One (1) sow  level is equivalent to ten (10) adult hogs

q       Small scale or Backyard Hog Farms or Piggeries refer to hog farms or piggeries with an animal  population of not  more than 100 heads or a sow level of not more than 10 sows.

q       Waste Reduction/Minimization refers to activities/techniques employed to minimize the generation of both liquid and solid wastes in a particular piggery or hog farm (e.g. installation of mechanical drinkers, etc.).

q       Biogas Digester System refers to the anaerobic breakdown of organic materials which produces methane or biogas as a by-product.

q       Lagoon System is a simple method of treating wastes using a series of dug-out ponds which function mainly as settling ponds.

q       TPED or Tubular Polyethylene Digester a low cost type of biogas system using polyethylene plastics as the digester chamber.

SECTION 5.  Waste Management Hierarchy (WMH). For the purposes of this Resolution, the LLDA hereby adopts a Waste Management Hierarchy stipulating preferred or desirable options for managing hog farm wastes.  The WMH advocates an expressed preference for the adoption by hog farm owners of waste minimization or waste reduction technology and waste reuse and recycling practices over end of the pipe waste treatment and disposal measures (Fig. 1).

SECTION 6. Creation of Composite Team.  A Composite Team will be created specifically to oversee the implementation of these policy guidelines.  The team shall be composed of representatives from the Community Development Division – Laguna Lake Development Authority, River Councils/Foundations, Local Government Units concerned and backyard hog raisers or Associations of Backyard Hog Raisers in the particular river basin with the following duties and responsibilities:

Community Development Division-Laguna Lake Development Authority

q       Lead in the organization and development of a Training Module and undertake the envisioned Training/Seminar as part of the Information Education Campaign.

q       Raise environmental awareness and promote greater involvement and support from various sectors for the various environmental management and protection efforts.

q       Initiate the organization of Backyard Piggery Owners or Small Scale Hog Raisers into associations which will serve as fora for the contemplated awareness raising activities.

Local Government Units

Pursuant to the Sanitation Code of the Philippines, it shall be incumbent upon all Local Government Units within the Laguna de Bay Region to:

q       Process and issue Sanitary Permits to all Hog Farms (Commercial or Backyard) within their area of jurisdiction.

q       Maintain an inventory of all hog farm operators in their respective areas of jurisdiction and monitor the status of each hog farm/piggery to determine compliance with all Pollution Control Laws and Regulation.  

q       In close coordination with the LLDA and the River Councils or Foundations working in their specific areas, the LGUs shall require all hog farm owners and their representatives to undergo training on waste reduction and minimization technologies.

q       Enact the necessary Municipal Ordinances to ensure compliance with the provisions of these policy guidelines.

River Councils/Foundations

q       Conduct physical survey of the river in the river basin concerned and pinpoint sources of pollution emanating from backyard hog farms.

q       Act as a network of river guards and environmental stewards and report to the LGU and the LLDA all cases of violation of environmental laws and outright disregard for anti-pollution laws and standards committed by backyard hog raisers.

q       Undertake Information, Education and Motivation Campaigns to raise the level of environmental and health awareness of backyard hog raisers.

Backyard Hog Raisers or Association of Hog Raisers

q       File complaints against member or non-member of the Association who violates the provisions stated herein.

q       Promote compliance with environmental standards.

q       Pursue livelihood project that will enhance the condition of the environment for the benefit of the Association.

ARTICLE 2

ISSUANCE OF PERMIT

Section 7. Requisite for the issuance and renewal of Permit/s.  Existing and still to be established commercial-backyard scale piggeries/hog farms shall be covered by the requisite/s for the renewal and issuance of permits identified herein:

o       All commercial – backyard scale hog farms to be established within the Laguna de Bay Region are required to submit mitigating measures or waste treatment options before Sanitary and Business Permits can be issued by the Municipal Health Office and the Office of the Mayor respectively. Following are some of the recommended options (Fig. 2):

q      Waste Water Reduction/Minimization

                   This involves the modification of standard mechanisms applied in existing hog farms or piggeries to reduce or minimize water usage.

q       Use of drums or storage water tanks during cleaning operation;

q       Installation of mechanical drinkers to minimize consumption and wastage of water;

q       Feed and water trough modification;

q       Use of mechanical/automatic feeder to reduce food wastage.

q      Waste Treatment Options

q       Installation of Biogas Digester

Commercial – backyard scale hog farms with population of at least 10 heads but not more than 100 heads are compelled to adopt this option.

For hog farms of less than 10 heads, installation of a TPED (Tubular Polyethylene Digester) as a treatment option is also recommended.

q       Lagoon System

The use of ponds or lagoon system is recommended for hog farms with at most five (5) heads.

For the marginalized hog raisers less than 10 heads, the requirement of lagoon system as well as the tubular polyethylene digester shall not be compulsory until after a period of one year from the effectivity of the rules.

q       Drying of Manure

This involves the removal of solid hog wastes (manure), drying and applying to farms/gardens as fertilizer. Hog raisers who will adopt this option shall construct a lagoon or pond as the main repository of the waste water during cleaning operations.

q       Establishment of a Pelleting Plant (Organic fertilizer) and/or common Treatment Facilities.

This can be achieved through the formation of a Cooperative composed of backyard hog raisers in the locality.

o       For existing commercial backyard hog farms with at least one (1) but not more than 100 heads, a lead time of at least three (3) but not more than five (5) months shall be given to build/install or apply waste treatment mechanisms and facilities. Hog farms, specially those having a population of at least ten heads, without enough space for the installation of biogas digesters are required to institute waste reduction measures at source and consequently adopt appropriate options.

o       For Contract Growers, contracting firms will likewise be required to institute treatment options befitting the number of heads to be raised.  Failure to set-up treatment mechanisms will mean non-issuance and/or cancellation of permit.

Section 8.  Revocation/Cancellation of Permit/s.  The Sanitary and Business permits issued by responsible offices can be revoked or cancelled based on the following grounds and as recommended by the composite team: for newly established hog farms-the mitigating measures or waste treatment options which the proponent submitted as requisite for securing permits did not materialize; for existing hog farms-the lead time given to build/install and apply waste treatment mechanisms  and facilities has lapsed.

ARTICLE 3

IMPLEMENTATION

Section 9.  Strategies for Implementation. To successfully execute this policy the LLDA will make use of the following approaches/methods:

q       IEC – Make intensive Information Education Campaign through series of consultations, dialogues, discussions with commercial backyard scale hog farm owners in the different localities within the Laguna de Bay Region.

q       Provision of Technical Assistance – The LLDA shall provide Training and  Seminars on the different technologies that can be adopted by Hog Farm Owners.

q       Community Organizing – the LLDA to lead the organizing of all commercial backyard hog raisers into Cooperatives or Associations.

q       Involvement of private investors in financing costly undertakings such as building a common waste treatment facilities and procuring and installing pelleting machine/s.

q       Coordinate with multi-national and local companies, who are subsidizing contract growers, to cooperate, support and adopt the policy.

q       To assist LGUs in drafting appropriate resolution and ordinances geared toward minimizing pollution emanating from Backyard Hog.

ARTICLE 4

MONITORING/REPORTING

The composite team shall conduct joint regular monthly monitoring/ocular inspection of all newly established and existing commercial-backyard scale hog farms in a particular town.  The Sanitary officers and representative/s from the LLDA shall conduct water sampling and analysis on a quarterly basis to ensure compliance and that the treatment facilities are being put to good use.  Report of the visits, inspections and or water analyses shall be prepared and made available anytime. Copies of such reports shall be distributed to the members of the composite team including the Legal Division of the LLDA for the appropriate legal action if and when warranted.

ARTICLE 5

PROVISION OF INCENTIVES

q       Using the Monitoring and Compliance Report, the Composite Team shall identify all complying hog raisers. The Local Government Unit shall in turn give incentives based on the recommendation of the Composite Team. Following are the possible incentives to be given:

q       A reduction of thirty percent (30%) of the fee for renewal of Business and Sanitary Permits.

q       A certain percentage of the fines collected from non-complying hog raisers shall be reallocated for the benefit of the identified complying hog raisers.

ARTICLE 6

EFFECTIVITY

This policy guidelines shall take effect immediately upon the approval of the LLDA Board of Directors and will remain enforced unless otherwise revoked.

          APPROVED on September 27, 2001:

Resolution No. 169

Series of 2001

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