Tight watch ordered vs contaminated meat

With the holiday season just around the corner, Caloocan City Mayor Enrico Echiverri sought yesterday to further protect the health of the consuming public by creating a task force that would guard against the foot-and-mouth-disease (FMD) and sale of "double dead" meat in the city.

The mayor said the move was in line with the order of the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) urging all local governments to pursue the control and eventual eradication of FMD in the country, particularly in Luzon.

Echiverri said the task force is mandated to monitor the movement of livestock in and out of the city, check and verify shipping documents, veterinary health certificate, and meat inspection certificate.

It is also ordered to check other documents required in the transport of livestock, meat and meat by-products to ensure the healthy condition of animals and the good quality of the meat for public consumption.

The mayor said it is empowered to apprehend meat handlers, dealers and others in the distribution chain found in possession of FMD-infected and other disease-stricken animals and contaminated carcasses.

The meat guardians are further tasked to confiscate these for proper disposal to prevent the disease from further spreading.

Echiverri said the group will also conduct spot inspections of backyard and commercial farms, slaughter houses, "lechon" pits and holding yards.

If found positive for FMD, establishments will be prevented from moving infected and exposed animals as well as from introducing new stock of susceptible animals in the area without the consent from the proper authorities.

Farms with FMD cases will be immediately closed and put under quarantine until such time that the ban order is lifted.

Echiverri chairs the task force while city veterinarian Teodoro Rosales and lawyer Romeo Alcantara, city administrator, as action officers.

Other members of the task force include city health officer Dr. Raquel So-Sayo, city legal officer Teresita Capacillo, city police chief Senior Superintendent Leo Garra and all meat inspectors.

All barangay chairmen and city market masters were also assigned to the monitoring team. — Jerry Botial