ILOILO City – How important is the upgrading of this city’s slaughterhouse?
Its impact on the local economy would be considerable, according to Assistant Secretary for Visayas Hansel Didulo of the Department of Agriculture (DA).
The slaughterhouse, located in Barangay Tacas, Jaro district, currently has no classification under the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS). It is neither A, AA or AAA.
“The moment NMIS and the Bureau of Animal Industry Quarantine Service strictly impose their rules, you cannot transport meat from the slaughterhouse. This will have a big impact on the city’s economy because tons of meat from here are being shipped to Bacolod City and Negros Occidental, and even to Boracay before the island was closed,” said Didulo.
According to Ariel Castañeda, chief of the city government’s Local Economic Enterprise Office (LEEO), on daily basis the slaughterhouse caters to between 180 to 200 heads of hogs and cattle.
The LEEO is the city government office overseeing the operation of the slaughterhouse and the city’s public markets.
Didulo said the slaughterhouse needs rehabilitation.
According to Castañeda, a master plan is being finalized in coordination with the City Planning and Development Office, Office of the City Mayor and NMIS.
To secure an AA classification, said Castañeda, some P100 million may be needed for the upgrade.
Didulo said an A classification means meat from the slaughterhouse can be transported within the city only while an AA classification means the meat can be transported outside the city.
An AAA classification, on the other hand, means the meat from the slaughterhouse is safe enough to be shipped abroad.
“Everyday nagakaon kita meat sa city. We say wala s’ya nag agi sa slaughterhouse nga may certification sa standards. Amo na ang problem naton,” said Didulo.
On Tuesday the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) urged the LEEO to activate a task force against “hot meat.”
The call came after the SP approved LEEO’s P6.961-million Supplemental Budget No. 1 for the office’s personnel benefits, capital outlay, maintenance and other operating expenses, and repair of building.
Majority Floor Leader Eduardo Peñaredondo said the budget was approved “with regrets” because the LEEO’s performance had been wanting.
“You must be very active. You have to campaign against the proliferation of hot meat,” said Peñaredondo.
The councilor said it was common knowledge that everywhere, livestock were being slaughtered “for business purposes without passing the slaughterhouse.”
Castañeda denied the proliferation of “hot meat” but admitted there were livestock slaughtered in backyards./PN
