4 kilos hot meat, stingray seized

CEBU, Philippines — At least four kilos of stingray and hot meat were seized yesterday by the personnel of Cebu City Department of Veterinary Medicine and Fisheries (DVMF) in separate market operations.

DVMF chief Dr. Alice Utlang said the endangered species were confiscated along El Filibusterismo Street in Barangay Ermita while the diseased pig lungs were intercepted at the Carbon Market.

“Ang kaning mga nadakpan kay mga ambulant vendors man kayangnaasa market kahibaw man sila nga gi-dili gyud ang pagtinda og endangered species and meat na unfit for human consumption,” Utlang said.

The vendors were issued citations pursuant to the local executive order of the city. Utlang said higher penalties will be imposed next year pursuant to Republic Act 10536 or the Meat Inspection Code of the Philippines.

First offense will have a fine of P25,000; second offense, P50,000; and third offense, P75,000. Utlang said they have already conducted investigation to trace the source of the hot meat.

Utlang said they have been very strict in the implementation of the laws prohibiting the sale of endangered species.

Under the Provincial Fisheries Ordinance No. 2015-21 stingrays are considered protected species and trading is prohibited. Offenders will be fined P 3,000 and additional P 1,000 per kilogram.

Utlang said that the confiscated stingrays and the diseased pig lungs will be buried. She said yesterday’s seizure was considered isolated. She assured the consumers that hot meat is not rampant in the city’s public markets.

“Dili mani rampant pariha sa una nga incident, however, hangtod sa naay mamalit ma entice gyud sila nga mobaligya. So I encourage the public to stop patronizing these kinds of activities,” Utlang said. (FREEMAN)