Probe sought as flies pester Asturias anew

A resident of Barangay Bago in Asturias town, midwest Cebu could not help but air her frustration over the swarms of flies that have been pestering their locality reportedly because of the presence of poultry farms there.

Provincial Board Member Christopher Baricuatro, chairman of the Committee on Health and Social Services, said he has asked an immediate report from the Provincial Health Office regarding the pestilence.

A Facebook user who comes by the name Princess France posted photos and a video on her account on October 15 and 17, respectively, showing the presence of unusually large flies resting on the tables, floors and some vegetation.

In the captions, she attributed the infestation to the "unregulated" poultry farms in their place.

"OMG!!! My place in BUSWANG BAGO ASTURIAS, CEBU and its neighboring Barangays are in need of immediate attention due to "FLOCKS OF LANGAW" that invade our community. We solely blamed these "PESTS" due to the neglect of the POULTRY Management who has no preventive measures to protect us from these pests," her post reads.

She also vented her frustration over the seeming inaction of the barangay officials and the rural health unit. She claimed that the town's RHU said the situation was just "normal."

But for most netizens, the sight of large flies was not only unusual; for them, it also means danger.

"Dili gyud na normal. Para siguro nila normal ra. Ngano kaha nakaingon na sila nga normal pa na nga kagrabe sa langaw, murag pasas sa kadaghan?" Hennalyn Algabre Bacacaowrote.

"Dili mana maayo oy. Makadala gyud na'g sakit. Taga-DOH man unta sila, concern(ed) unta sila sa health sa lumulopyo," Maria Avril also commented.

Flies are carriers of bacteria that cause diseases like cholera, typhoid fever, and diarrhea, among others.

France appealed to local government and health officials to immediately look into the situation and the residents' plight.

"We are appealing to the concerned authorities for an immediate action in this concern… Tatay Digong help us, please," she wrote, apparently calling on President Duterte to intervene.

Baricuatro said the report from PHO would be the basis for PB's next action, adding that he has been hearing the same concern since last year.

The PB might summon the local officials to a session to shed light on the concerns raised by the residents, he said.

Dr. Niño Ismael Pastor, PHO chief on public health, said he will send a team to Asturias to investigate into the infestation.

He said poultry farms are identified as possible breeding grounds of flies, but according to him, poultry owners there have been reportedly doing interventions to address the plague.

He urged the residents to file formal complaint against the poultry owners and not just post complaints on Facebook and other social media platforms so that the government and local officials can formally act on them.

Asturias is located some 80 kilometers west of Cebu City.