City Hall executive denies favoring hog dealers

CEBU, Philippines - Selling pigs along B. Aranas and Lakandula Sts. is considered unsanitary and illegal, yet hog merchants continue to exist in the area.

This led to speculations that the members of the Cebu City Hall’s clearing team are hesitant to act against this because they are getting meat from the dealers.

But Noel Artes, head of the City Hall’s Squatters Prevention Encroachment Elimination Division (Speed) whose office is situated at the Taboan public market, denied the reports that his men are receiving “aslonon” for hog merchants to be allowed to stay.

According to Artes, they drove away these hog merchants a few months ago. But the pig dealers came back, without his knowledge, only days ago.

Some people at the Taboan public market, however, laughed when they learned of Artes’ statement.

“Kadugay na ana nila dinhi. Imposible nga ang Speed wala makakita nga duol ra man kaayo ang ilang opisina dinhi sa gibutangan sa mga tangkal sa baboy,” a woman said yesterday morning. (The hog merchants have been here for a long time now and it’s impossible for the officials not to know about this as the pigpens are near their office.)

The FREEMAN tried to get the comment of City Administrator Jose Mari Poblete about the matter, but the City Hall official did not reply.

In an interview on Thursday morning, Artes vowed to act on the matter. He said he would confiscate the pigs if the merchants will insist on staying.

But as of yesterday noon, the pigpens were still at the area.

In 2002, some hog merchants also used the place for their trade but they were stopped by the then market administrator, the late Elpidio “Jojo” dela Victoria.

City Health officials headed by Dr. Stella Ygoña said the selling of live pigs along the roads, particularly at the Taboan market, violates the City’s Sanitation Code.

Aside from being unsanitary, the pigpens along the roads also obstruct the flow of vehicles and pedestrians. — (FREEMAN)