Carbon Market Unit 1 to be fenced

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City government will be spending close to P5 million to construct a perimeter fence around Carbon Market Unit 1 as one way to closely monitor that all meat that will be brought inside are fit for human consumption.

At present, the government meat inspectors cannot fully monitor the entry of meat in the different stalls because the unscrupulous vendors can just enter the market without having their products inspected first by the meat inspectors.

The law requires the meat vendors to first submit their products to government meat inspectors before bringing them to the market. It said the carcass or parts of carcass or food animals which were slaughtered in unregistered/unaccredited meat establishments and have not undergone the required inspection will be classified as “hot meat.”

Councilor Roberto “Bob” Cabarrubias, head of the City Council’s committee on Infrastructure, said there are available funds for the project because it is already included in the Supplemental Budget No. 2 of 2012.

Cabarrubias said the City Hall’s Bids and Awards Committee had already declared that Ped Xing Construction was the lowest bidder for the project when it submitted a bid of P4,938,293.

The Bids and Awards Committee already recommended that the City Council allow Mayor Michael Rama to enter into a contract with the construction company.

During last Wednesday’s regular session, Cabarrubias was scheduled to propose a resolution asking his fellow city legislators to authorize the mayor to enter into contract with Ped Xing Construction, but he decided to temporarily defer it because he found out that the supporting documents were not yet complete.

Market Administrator Raquel Arce said that her program is to construct perimeter fences in all satellite markets in Cebu City is also one way to minimize theft, particularly at night.  — (FREEMAN)