Poultry farmers warned about a possible sharp increase in the prices of chicken in Eastern Visayas after the regional office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources ordered excavation inside the breeder farms of the largest poultry producer in the region to check alleged dumping of wastes.
The DENR office reportedly acted on complaint by individuals who alleged dumping of wastes from DBSN Farms Agriventures Corp.’s facilities in Leyte province despite the earlier dismissal of the case by the local court.
DBSN, one of the largest agriculture companies in the Visayas, said the action of DENR Region 7, endangers the livelihood of hundreds of poultry farmers and threatens the supply to the public of chicken in Eastern Visayas from the only “AAA” poultry dressing plant in the region.
DBSN, which employs more than 600 workers, said the National Meat Inspection Service certified its plant as GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) and HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point) compliant.
It noted that the DENR-Environmental Management Bureau Region VIII earlier asked for the dismissal of the complaint as the Pollution Adjudication Board has the exclusive and original jurisdiction on the case. It said the local court also dismissed the case in February this year.