RATHER than repair it, Mandaue City Hall chose to close its slaughterhouse in Barangay Labugon at an unspecified date.
An ordinance to close down the slaughterhouse or abattoir was passed on first reading at the Mandaue City Council in last Wednesday’s session.
The decision to close it came days after the city government promised to repair it.
In a letter submitted to the City Council last Oct. 10, 2017, Acting City Veterinarian Dr. Karen Merilles reported that the Environment Management Bureau (EMB) cited several violations committed by city abattoir management.
These include the absence of wastewater treatment facility, the absence of a valid discharge permit since 2006, the absence of an accredited Pollution Control Officer (PCO) and failure to submit quarterly self-monitoring reports.
Merilles and Mandaue City Mayor Gabriel Luis Quisumbing promised to EMB that the city will comply with all the requirements on or before Nov. 26 this year.
But Merilles said the city government later opted to close the slaughterhouse.
A comparative income statement submitted by Merilles together with her letter showed that the slaughterhouse generated income ranging from P5 million to as high as P12 million.
Though the slaughterhouse income went up to P12 million in 2012, it went down to P6.5 million last year.
The ordinance to close the slaughterhouse was authored by Councilor Carmelino del Mar Jr., who said only the slaughterhouse operations will be closed.
However, Mandaue City Hall’s Department of Veterinary Medicine will continue with their other functions like meat inspection, meat transport and post abattoir control; evaluation and collection of fees as provided by law.
Del Mar said the City Veterinary Office will prepare a closure plan for the slaughterhouse.