City creates Post-Abattoir Inspection Task Force
BACOLOD CITY -- The city government has warned Bacoleños against "hot meat" that are being sold in the markets.
A Post–Abattoir Inspection Task Force (PAITF) was organized by the City Veterinary Office to control the proliferation of illegal slaughter activities, sale and distribution of "hot meat' and the entry of meat coming from unaccredited slaughterhouses into the city.
A task force was created under Executive Order No. 137. Section 4 and Ordinance No. 459 entitled: "An Ordinance Establishing Guidelines and Polices in the Apprehension of Illegally Slaughtered Animals in the City of Bacolod, Creating a Task Force Body for its Implementation and Providing Penalties Thereof."
The task force aims to maintain the meat-borne-disease-free status of the city, to increase the average volume of slaughter to 300 heads of hogs and 50 heads of large cattle per day by the end of 2008, and to sustain its operation the whole year round.
The task force will monitor and inspect major public markets, satellite markets, talipapa, lechonan, supermarkets, cold storage and meat processing plants, entry points to the city and identified barangays and other locations where illegal slaughter activities exist.
Based on the ordinance, any person, firm or corporation caught illegally slaughter and/or in the position of "hot meat", will be imprisoned for six months to one year and will be fined P50,000.
The city mayor is empowered by the ordinance to cancel or revoke business permits of those firms caught violating the law.
The city veterinarian, through the task force and other enforcement agencies, is also empowered to confiscate hot meat and/or carcasses of any illegally slaughtered animals including all slaughtering paraphernalia and impound any vehicle used, pending the termination of the case from proper court. (PIO/PIA/EAD)