Mayor extends old slaughterhouse operation for 3 months
BACOLOD CITY – City Councilor Alex Paglumutan, chairman of the committee on market and slaughterhouse, confirmed yesterday that Mayor Evelio Leonardia granted the request of abbatoir workers to extend for another three months the operation of the old slaughterhouse in Brgy. 35.
Paglumutan said that this is the result of their series of meeting with the Social Action Center and Barangay Officials who are pushing that livelihood program be extended and given to their constituents who will be affected by the closure of the slaughterhouse.
However, Paglumutan expressed apprehension that the move of Mayor Leonardia would contradict the stand of AVM Bernardo Engineering Services that the old slaughterhouse should operate only until August 31, 2008.
Paglumutan said the city is tied with the agreement and the contractor has the right to pursue a case for breach of agreement against the City Government for extending the operation of the old slaughterhouse.
Last Sunday, the residents and the affected workers were in jubilation after Paglumutan relayed to them the information that Mayor Leonardia granted their request for extension pending the alternative solution that the city is working out.
Paglumutan along with Mayor Leonardia, however, scored Bacolod City Representative Monico Puentevella for intervening and meddling in the affairs of abbatoir workers.
Paglumutan said Puentevella for instigated the workers to remain in the old slaughterhouse.
He further said that he is getting irritated because the move of the city is obstructed by political plan and agenda.
The committee chair on market and slaughterhouse received information from Brgy. 35 residents that Puentevella went to their place and told them not to transfer to the new abbatoir.
Paglumutan reiterated that the primordial concern of the city is "safe meat" because the City of Bacolod is always featured in the national media to have a dirtiest slaughterhouse all over the country. He further said that we need to push for the operation of new slaughterhouse for health safety and protection.
The AVM Bernardo incurs daily losses if the old slaughterhouse continues to operate, Paglumutan said.