BAGUIO CITY – Some 380 kilos of alleged mishandled meat were successively seized by officials and employees of the city veterinary office in separate operations within the city’s central business district over the past several days.
In her report to Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan, City Veterenarian Dra. Brigit P Piok said the alleged mishandled meat were seized at Abano Square, Campo Filipino and along Hilltop Street.
At around 7 am of August 2 during the post-abatoir inspection at the city market, Piok disclosed some 150 kilos of pork were confiscated at the pay parking area of Abanao Square loaded from a private pick up with plate number CRC-435 owned by a certain Arnel Dipasupil.
According to her, the said mishandled meat is supposedly for sale at the city market by erring vendors who continue to patronize the purchase of such meat thereby short-changing their customers.
At around 8:30 am of the same day, Piok cited another 60 kilos of pork for delivery to the city market were confiscated at Campo Filipino, Naguilian road from a San Fernando, La Union bound for the city proper.
She added the confiscated pork was owned by a certain Lita Coronia and the said meat products were confiscated because of the lack of accompanying documents such as meat and meat product inspection certificate which is a clear violation of Republic Act (RA) 10536.
At around 4 am of August 4, while officials and employees of the city veterinary office were conducting monitoring and inspection at the city public market, a concerned citizen approached and requested them to inspect certain boxes and sacks of suspected frozen and processed meat piled at the pathway in front of a grocery store along Hilltop road.
Upon reaching the said area, Piok cited it was found out that three sacks and one box of assorted frozen processed meat with an estimated weight of 170 kilograms were piled on the sidewalk.
It was later found out that the products were owned by a certain Mr. Arnel Balajdja and the same products were subsequently confiscated with the aid of employees from the city treasury office and public order and safety division.
Piok cited the aforesaid volume of meat was confiscated due to mishandling of the frozen meat in violation of existing national laws and local ordinance.
The confiscated meat products were appropriately disposed upon the supervision of concerned veterinary officials.
By Dexter A. See