Cebu City lawyers prepare to parry off Mandaue

Fifty cows were slaughtered in Cebu City’s slaughterhouse in this photo during the preparation for a recent Islam celebration. The Cebu City government is preparing its answer to Mandaue City’s demand for taxes and notice of violations. (CDN PHOTO/ JUNJIE MENDOZA)

CEBU City Mayor Michael Rama called for a meeting with City Hall lawyers together with the head of the city’s slaughterhouse  on Monday to prepare their response to the Mandaue city government’s claim that  the  slaughterhouse in barangay Subangdaku, Mandaue committed some violations.

Dr. Pilar Romero, city slaughterhouse operations head, has yet to get a copy of Mandaue’s letter but she said that they have been careful in ensuring smooth operations at the slaughterhouse especially with their plan to apply for an AA accreditation with the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS).

The slaughterhouse has not been given accreditation by NMIS since 2005.

Romero said slaughterhouse personnel, including those paid by private owners of hogs and cattles, are covered by health permits.

“Tubagon lang siguro unya na namo tanan.  Naa na may gipatawag nga meeting si mayor para ma tapok mi  (We will be sending a reply to Mandaue’s observations.  The mayor already called for a meeting for us to discuss these concerns),” she told Cebu Daily News.

Mandaue City legal officer Giovanni Tianero wrote  Rama on Oct. 23 to raise concern on the slaughterhouse’s lack of business and sanitary permits and health cards for the employees.

Sanitary inspectors who visited the slaughterhouse on October 17 noted of seven violations in the slaughterhouse operations which include poor sanitation, dysfunctional treatment facility, dumping of waste water into the Mahiga Creek, continued use of the slaughterhouse building while undergoing renovation, lack of employees health card, lack of mayor’s and sanitary permits and absence of a water analysis report.

The report also showed pictures of animal hair being dumped in front of the slaughterhouse with leachate flowing into the creek.

Romero said she was at the slaughterhouse when the Mandaue City sanitary inspectors came on October 17.

She explained that slaughterhouse employees are required to undergo medical check up before they are issued with employment IDs.

While she admitted that animal hairs are dumped in front of the slaughterhouse, these are being collected by the Department of Public Services (DPS) on a daily basis.

She said that wastewater being disposed into the Mahiga Creek is water used for the washing of slaughtered animals.

“Dugay na kaayo ni nato nga practice pero liquid ra man pud ang atong ipaagas sa sapa,” Romero said.