Meat vendors call for fixed rate in new abattoir
BACOLOD CITY – Meat and lechon (roasted pig) vendors have urged AVM Bernardo Engineering Services, operator of the new slaughterhouse in Brgy. Handumanan, to fix the rate they are charging their clients to avoid confusion.
Last Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) regular session, Joaquin Medina, a representative of a group of lechon vendors, made a special appearance and criticized the privatization of the slaughterhouse which he felt is "anti-lechon vendors". He also accused the city of protecting the interest of AVM Bernardo instead of serving the interest of the poor most especially small vendors like him.
City Councilor Alex Paglumutan, chairman of the committee on market and slaughterhouse, vowed yesterday to conduct a public consultation together with Mayor Evelio Leonardia and the representatives of AVM Bernardo Engineering Services in order to discuss thoroughly the new rate to be implemented by private slaughterhouse operator.
"I cannot fix a new rate without consulting the meat and lechon vendors," Paglumutan said. He also added that he proposed a reasonable rate but this move is still pending because he is awaiting the proposal from the contractor.
Medina, however, is wondering why the city cannot operate its own slaughterhouse since the building constructed in Brgy. Handumanan belongs to the city government and AVM Bernardo only supplied equipment and other facilities which the city could acquired if they are interested.
"If Bernardo can run a slaughterhouse efficiently, why can't the city?" said Medina.
He also emphasized that if the city can afford to construct a new government center "why we cannot construct our own slaughterhouse in which public health and safety is at stake."
Meanwhile, Paglumutan vowed that he will exhaust all means to make the regulatory fees reasonable to protect the interest of the vendors.
He also invited slaughterhouse workers to sit down with the chief executive and look for effective solution to their problems. The workers complain that the city has no plans for them even to extend livelihood assistance so that they will not be dislocated once the slaughterhouse from Brgy. 35 will transfer to Brgy. Handumanan next month.