CEBU, Philippines - Working for the Talisay City meat inspection team is no joke.
When team members are threatened by meat sellers whose merchandise has been discovered to be dubious, inspectors, in most cases, capitulate to avoid trouble.
This is the reason why City Councilor Edward S. Alesna, chairman of the committee on market and slaughterhouse, has asked the police to accompany inspectors when they make the rounds.
“It is very important that they shall be given full protection by law enforcement agencies,†Alesna said, adding the meat task force of Talisay has been operating for almost a year now and very effective in their campaign against outside and illegal slaughtering hogs and other animals.
“As a result, the volume of hogs that are being slaughtered daily at our slaughter house has increased in numbers,†Alesna said.
Without the task force, spoiled and “hot†meat would be everywhere.
City veterinarian Dr. Santiago Hortel said all meat being sold is checked.
He said meat that doesn’t bear the mark of the abattoir will be seized.
Another task force visits satellite markets in barangays Dumlog, Pooc, and San Roque and three supermarkets in Lawaan I, Tabunok, and sitio Laray in San Roque at the Cebu South Coastal Road. (FREEMAN)