Development of an agricultural environmental management system for swine and poultry enterprises of Lipa City, Philippines

The environmental performance of swine and poultry farms in Lipa City was evaluated to formulate an agricultural management system. The existing environmental management programs of the local government unit of Lipa City for these enterprises, which included the environmental policies and programs, and the institutional linkages among local government offices and the private animal enterprises were assessed. Survey, direct observation, key informant interview, focus group discussion and review of documents were used. The swine and poultry manure pollutes the land and rivers. Spoiled/spilled feeds, empty feed sacks, empty medicine vials, and dead animals were the major solid wastes. Wastewater contributed to surface water pollution and possibly to groundwater contamination. Air emission coming from these farms added to air pollution problems of the city. However, both swine and poultry enterprises applied farm management practices, such as constructing waste treatment facilities, selling chicken dung, installing nipple drinker, using power-sprayer, re-using waste materials, spraying chemicals and others, to minimize their wastes and lighten their impacts to the environment. The present rate of water consumption of the semi-commercial and commercial swine growers and the commercial poultry enterprises could contribute to the depletion of groundwater resource of the city. The procurement of available agricultural inputs in the city of swine and poultry enterprises was both economically and environmentally advantageous because of lesser transportation cost and lesser air pollution. The existing environmental program being implemented by the local government of Lipa City for swine and poultry enterprises was inadequate. It did not address the environmental problems generated from the operation of swine and poultry enterprises. The city government did not have the specific environmental program for swine and poultry enterprises. The environmental policies of the proposed agricultural EMS aim to continuously improve the environmental performance by adopting efficient resource utilization, waste minimization, and pollution prevention. In addition, the organization, (the LGU and poultry enterprises) is also committed to comply with relevant legislation and regulations, and document, implement and maintain and communicate the EMS to all parties involved. Guidelines for the LGU to develop the proposed EMS were provided. In order to best implement the proposed EMS, a strong linkage, accountability and transparency among the LGU, private enterprises and the communities should be established. The EMS should also be approved by the stakeholders and be institutionalized by adopting it as city ordinance