Rama shuts down five "unsanitary" slaughterhouses

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama has ordered the closure of five unsanitary private slaughterhouses in the city.

City veterinarian Alice Utlang said they have conducted inspection several days ago and these were found to be very dirty. In fact, one of the five was found to have human waste during the inspection.

Utlang refused to identify the owners but said one of the five is located near the Inayawan Sanitary Landfill.The four others are located in Mambaling, Lahug, Punta Princesa and Labangon.

In Barangay Mambaling, animals were allegedly slaughtered inside a residential house contrary to what is mandated under the Sanitary Code. Utlang said some of the owners have filed a request to reconsider the closure order but were denied.

According to Utlang, there are over 30 private slaughterhouses operating in Cebu City, most of them have complied with the provisions of the Sanitary Code.

“We want to ensure the public that our meat products are always fit for human consumption that is why we are very strict in implementing the provisions of the Sanitary Code,” Utlang said.

She said that her department wants to be vanguard of public health by strictly implementing the Sanitary Code. According to Utlang, her personnel are strictly implementing the laws related to meat inspection and regulations to discourage hot meat dealers to engage their illegal activities.

Hot meats are those products that are not inspected by meat inspectors. –