Talisay City Council commends vet office for seizure of imported meat

CEBU, Philippines - The Talisay City Council yesterday commended the office of the city veterinarian for the seizure of 117 kilos of imported frozen meat cuts last December.

The Council made the commendation through a resolution authored by Councilor Choy Aznar, chairman of the Council committee on health.

Last December 23, a team from the city veterinary's office led by its officer-in-charge Santiago Hortel seized 117 kilos of imported meat from three vendors at the Tabunok Public Market. The operation was in line with Executive Order Number 22 issued by Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, which mandates that all imported meat must be kept in a freezer to prevent it from getting spoiled.

The seized products, believed to be worth more than P5,000, were burned at back of the city's slaughterhouse in Barangay Biasong.

Garcia's Executive Order No. 22 directs all local government to strictly implement the rules and regulations in handling frozen and chilled meat products.

The order came after it was reported that imported meats in public markets were left being sold unmonitored, thereby risking the buying public to the possible   dangers that these products could pose, such as presence of bacteria in the meat.

Following the issuance of the order, Aznar and Councilor Edward Alesna requested the Local Meat Inspector through the Office of the City Veterinary to inspect the markets regularly to ensure that meat products sold thereat meet the required standards. (FREEMAN)