Bishop mediates to end dispute between city officials and displaced abattoir workers
BACOLOD City -- Bishop Vicente Navarra of the Diocese of Bacolod successfully intervened to settle the problem of the slaughterhouse workers and residents of Barangay 35 who were affected by the closure of the old slaughterhouse following the opening of a new one in Brgy. Handumanan.
Bishop Navarra, together with the Social Action Center led by Fr. Mao Buenafe, organized a dialogue to discuss and look for immediate solution to the problem.
The Bishop initiated the talks between local officials led by Mayor Evelio Leonardia and the barangay leaders from Brgy. 34, 35 and 36, and also the group of abbatoir workers represented by Samuel Cordova, following reports that the dispute is getting worse as the residents in said barangays are resorting to personal attacks against city officials perceived to be reluctant to address their problem particularly on how they can have an alternative means of livelihood after the old slaughterhouse was closed and its operations transferred to the new slaughterhouse in Brgy. Handumanan.
Prior to this dialogue, the Asosasyon sang mga Manug-ihaw nga Trabahante sa Slaughterhouse (AMTS) Secretary General Glynda Arguelles held a rally last Tuesday and declared their demands to the city government, among others, to scrap the Memorandum of Agreement with AVM Bernardo Engineering Services, the rehabilitation of old slaughterhouse, uphold the livelihood program of the residents and give favor to the plight of the majority who were displaced by the closure of the old slaughterhouse.
During the dialogue, Cordova emotionally expressed his sentiments narrating how the old slaughterhouse helped them go through with their lives. Other residents blame the city for favoring AVM Bernardo without studying first the consequences to the affected barangays.
Brgy. Captain Marianito Yelo of Brgy. 35 strongly expressed his frustration that the city officials did not even give any notice of closure for the old abattoir.
But, despite the verbal attacks, Leonardia remained calm, along with some city council members and just explained and proved their point as to the need to have a new slaughterhouse. Leonardia said that Bacolod is a fast growing city and therefore needs to establish a new slaughterhouse because the old slaughterhouse cannot pass the qualifications and standards set by the National Meat Inspection Services. (NMIS)
On the other hand, AVM Bernardo represented by Michael Imperial promised to absorb the displaced workers and told them to submit their bio-data, barangay certificate and clearance, and drug test results.
The city further committed to give other means of livelihood assistance to some who may not be accommodated by the AVM Bernardo Engineering Services.
A sort of a compromise agreement has also been reached that the workers can still continue to slaughter hogs and big animals at the old abattoir until the end of this month.