Meat vendors renew opposition against new abattoir
BACOLOD CITY – An organization of meat vendors strongly oppose the proposed privatization of the new slaughterhouse in Brgy. Handumanan.
Asosasyon sang mga Manug-ihaw nga Trabahante sa Slaughterhouse (AMTS) together with various meat vendors yesterday gathered at the Fountain of Justice near Bacolod City Hall to once again appeal to Mayor Evelio Leonardia and to the Sangguniang Panglungsod Members to amend the Memorandum of Agreement entered between AVM Bernardo Engineering Services and also by the City Government.
During Press Conference yesterday, Mr. Joaquin Medina, a meat vendor, said that the new slaughterhouse did not serve its main purpose to protect the interest of the people because once it will operate, there will be an increase in prices of all meat products.
Medina also questioned various fees to be implemented like Post and Ante Mortem Fees, Delivery Fees, Entrance Fees which he considered are very exorbitant which the people cannot afford to pay especially meat and lechon vendors.
On the other hand, AMTS Chairman Samuel Cordova lambasted the local government for not protecting their interest. He said that the city government has no clear cut policy to protect abattoir workers who will be dislocated once the new slaughterhouse will operate.
Cordova recalled that there was no public consultation when the MOA was approved. "AMTS will not stop opposing until their vital concern is met," Cordova added. Medina stressed that they are willing to sit down with Mayor Leonardia and all other officials including SP Member Alex Paglumutan, chairman of the Committee on Market. They want to discuss solution for the urgent problem confronted by meat vendors and slaughterhouse workers.