Review on accreditation of slaughterhouses asked

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Councilor Pastor Alcover, Jr. is urging the National Meat Inspection Services (NMIS) to review its policies relating to the accreditation of double A slaughter houses in the city to facilitate a dynamic and reasonable prices for trade and commerce of pork.

Alcover, chairman of Committee on Trade, Commerce, and Entrepreneurship and the Committee on Agriculture of the Cebu City Council, raised an issue about it before the city council to address the concern on the increasing prices of pork in the city markets.

Alcover stood before the City Council to deliver a privilege speech highlighting the increasing prices of pork in the city. He, however, noted a glaring effect of the inflation among other produce in the market.

According to him, the neoclassical economics indicated that the government policies also affect the market prices. To Alcover, his very concern is that these government policies are believed to be among the reasons affecting the prices of pork.

“Gani dunay usa ka higayon nga dunay baboy gikan sa Bohol wa makasud sa Cebu City tungod sa mga daghan kaayong mga restrictions,” said Alcover.

He added that this resulted in the diversion of supplies to Iloilo City.

Alcover, however, clarified that he is not against the policies implemented by NMIS particularly on the slaughter of pigs which is also aligned with the Republic Act 9296 or the Meat Inspection Code of the Philippines.

“Ako lang gipadangat ang mga concern sa mga traders, mga magbababoy kabahin sa pagpasulod og baboy gikan sa laing dapit paingon nganhi sa dakbayan,” said Alcover.

Currently, Alcover said the city could only accept pork from Bohol since the city no longer accept pork products from Negros.

“Mao na karon nga nalimitahan, nag problema atong mga magbababoy,” said Alcover.

According to Alcover, there is only one double A accredited slaughter house in the city. Since there is only one accredited slaughterhouse, the other traders raised the concerns that they can no longer accept supplies of pigs from the other areas since the said slaughterhouse is often full.

“Kay di naman ma absorb tanan kay usa ramay gi accredit sa NMIS, kung madawat man ang ubang baboy di dayon maihaw sa tukmang panahon,” said Alcover.

Alcover also said that as much as there were four slaughterhouses accredited by the city and are paying taxes, they still cannot function since they didn’t meet the requirement for accreditation of the NMIS.

He said this should be addressed the soonest time possible since it is threatening the pork supply of the city.  Alcover said the city government should appeal to the NMIS to review their polices on accreditation in order for the slaughterhouses to meet the standard requirements. (CEBU NEWS)