Sorry, but no lechon on Wednesdays and Sundays.
The city government of Baguio set every Wednesday and Sunday as general sanitation and disinfection schedule at the City Abattoir, lechonan and the market for hogs and goats in an advisory signed by Mayor Benjamin Magalong dated October 7, 2020.
The advisory was issued was issued after the city noted clustering of Coronavirus disease cases among 144 individuals at the Slaughterhouse – Sto. Nino Barangay as of October 5. Of the 144 Covid-19 positives, 54 are butchers, 65 are close contacts of butchers, 11 workers in the meat section, six are employees of the City Veterinary Office, three are contacts of CVAO employees and five are personnel of the City Treasury – Market Office.
Operations of the City Abattoir was temporarily suspended for disinfection from September 22 to 24, 2020 followed by a hard lockdown over the whole Slaughterhouse – Sto. Nino Barangay for 15 days from September 24 to October 7 due to Covid-19 outbreak.
With the resumption of operations, guidelines were issued for all livestock dealers, meat retailers, drivers, haulers and butchers with work operations and transactions at the Baguio City Abattoir and livestock market for hogs and goats.
The city government now requires all livestock dealers, drivers, haulers and butchers to present negative RT-PCR results before they can be allowed to enter the facility.
“The RT-PCR test must have been conducted within the last 72hours prior to their entry, and thereafter they must subject themselves to rapid antigen on or before the 25th day of every succeeding month,” the advisory reads.
Meantime, the schedule of acceptance and arrival of animals for slaughter is from 11AM to 8PM only.
Livestock dealers and meat retailers may be allowed to enter the abattoir for the purpose of hauling animal carcasses only.
Upon entry into the abattoir, butchers must present their gate pass and Meat Handler’s License, as issued by the City Veterinarian Office.
Further, all persons entering the abattoir must accomplish contact tracing forms, and shall properly wear face masks and face shields; for butchers, they must also wear their hard had, white boots, and white t-shirts.
Butchers shall not be allowed to go to the city market while on duty, and must assist in the regular disinfection of their respective work stations after their duty.
The guidelines may be amended or revised according to subsequent recommendations of the City Health Services Office in consideration of risk assessment and response measures to the Covid-19 pandemic. – Jessa Samidan