Fly-infested poultry farm ordered closed in Pangasinan town

VILLASIS, PANGASINAN — The mayor of this town on Tuesday ordered the closure of a poultry farm here for causing a fly infestation in an upland village and its neighboring areas.

Mayor Nonato Abrenica had written the owners of Albern Agri Ventures, saying the poultry farm had violated the terms and conditions for its operation and that it poses a threat to the health of the residents of Barangay Capulaan, where it is located.

In closing the poultry farm, Abrenica suspended the business permit he had issued and ordered owners Albert Gacutan and Bernard Go to stop their operations “until further notice.”

Capulaan Village Chief Amado Cenizan said flies began to swarm their houses about a week ago, prompting him and other village officials to inspect the four poultry farms operating in the village.

They would find out, he said, that thousands of chickens had died in the poultry farm owned by Gacutan and Go.

Cenizan said at least 10,000 chickens died in two of the three poultry buildings.

On Wednesday, Cenizan said the farm was already empty after the owners moved the live chickens to another location.