Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista has ordered the closure of the Kamuning slaughterhouse for violating provisions of the sanitation code and non-compliance with the city’s various business operation requirements.
At least three cease and desist orders have been issued by the city’s market development and administration department to the operator of the slaughterhouse.
The city’s contract with the operator of the Kamuning slaughterhouse, Abelgep Inc., expired on December 31 last year. But the slaughterhouse continued operation even without a valid contract.
Already, preparations are underway for the turnover of the Kamuning slaughterhouse to the city government. Jose Rueda is president of Abelgep, Inc.
City market administrator Donato Matias has coordinated with the treasurer’s office, legal office and general services office for the preparation of the summary of arrears and accounts incurred by the operator of the slaughterhouse with the city government from 2007 to 2010, especially payment of slaughter and permit fees.
The Kamuning slaughterhouse was reportedly operating without the necessary clearance and discharge permit from the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) and environmental clearance certificate from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
The facility was also reportedly operating with expired health certificate and sanitary permit.
The Mayor earlier gave a stern warning against operators of slaughterhouses in the city which fail to sanitize their facilities in accordance with the law.
He said it is imperative that slaughterhouse operators activate their respective waste water treatment facilities to ensure that meat products being sold in the markets are safe for human consumption.
Slaughterhouses which operate on poor sanitary conditions are facing closure, Mayor Bautista said.
Quezon City has three large animal slaughterhouses. Aside from the Kamuning slaughterhouse, the two others are the Capri slaughterhouse in Novaliches and the Labudajon slaughterhouse in Proj. 8. -30- Maureen Quinones, PAISO.
