7 markets, slaughterhouse probed Montesa

ILOILO CITY , Philippines   â€” An investigation will be conducted by the Iloilo City’s Local Economic Enterprise Office (LEEO) into the possible electric pilferage or jumpers within the seven public markets and a slaughterhouse in the city.

This issue came up after the city government owed Panay Electric Company (PECO) more than P16 million in electricity bills on the operations of these markets and slaughterhouse.

City Legal Officer Daniel Denopol said the LGU suspected some anomalies after it found out several electric bills without corresponding amount were issued by the Iloilo Electric Company (Ileco) to the city’s slaughterhouse based in Brgy. Tacas of Jaro district here.

“The bills only show a total kilowatt-hour used but there is no corresponding amount of how much is it. The amount should reflect on the bill as basis of their payment,” he said.

Denopol also said that, based from slaughterhouse-in-charge officer Dolly Trabasas, the bill was being processed at the Iloilo Terminal Public Market.

“We do not know what their system is. That’s why we are here conducting an investigation to know exactly what was going on,” he told members of the Iloilo City Hall Press Corps.

Denopol further said the city government will recommend the newly created market committee to ask Ileco of the slaughterhouse’s previous bills for comparative purposes.

The slaughterhouse is catering at least 200 heads of pig, cattle and carabao per day. Each 50 kilos of butchered meat has a corresponding fee of P155 as fees for slaughter, permit, post and anti- mortem.

Dinopol said the city government hired 61 job hires for the slaughterhouse operations. These job hires are well-trained by the National Meat Inspection Services (NMIS). The slaughterhouse, which is under the “Double A” standard category, was formerly managed by market supervisor Vincent de la Cruz, who was recently relieved from his post and temporarily reassigned to the mayor’s office while inspection is going on.

City Administrator Norlito Bautista replaced de la Cruz as LEEO officer-in-charge while executive assistant and former city councilor Ely Estante as the LEEO point person.

Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog said both appointees were in-charge to oversee the operation of the seven public markets and slaughterhouse as provided under the existing City Market Code.

Prior to the inspection, Mabilog created the market committee to make all public markets viable, profitable and conducive for customers. (FREEMAN)