THE Cebu City government ordered the closure of its own slaughterhouse in Barangay Subangdaku, Mandaue City starting Sept. 1.
The slaughterhouse will cease operations by August 31, said Dr. Alice Utlang, head of the city’s Department of Veterinary Medicine and Fisheries (DVMF).
Utlang cited the slaughterhouse’s failure to pass the standards set by the National Meat Inspection Services (NMIS) as one of the reasons for the closure.
“We are a highly urbanized city so we have to follow the standards set by NMIS,” said Utlang.
Utlang said she already asked another accredited slaughterhouse in the city to accommodate meat traders who would be affected by the closure.
“We are mandating privately owned slaughterhouses to follow the rules. We (city) must also do it to be able to implement the standard to the maximum extent. This is to set an example to the owners of private slaughterhouses,” she said.
There are 20 locally registered butcher houses in the city that are under evaluation.
“We are giving them time to improve, else we have to close them,” Utlang said.
When asked if the closure of the slaughterhouse will affect the distribution of meat, she replied, “No, no. This will have a positive impact because this time, the meats are neatly butchered.”
Meanwhile, the 17 casual employees who will be affected by the closure of slaughterhouse were already given other assignments.
Because the slaughterhouse is situated in Mandaue City, the Cebu City government is planning to build its own slaughterhouse in its own backyard.