Wednesday, December 24, 2008 Slaughterhouse mgt told to treat wastewater By Merlinda A. Pedrosa
SOME members of the City Council conducted an ocular inspection of the new slaughterhouse managed by AVM Bernardo after the company was told to properly dispose its wastewater.
Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson, Councilors Greg Gasataya and Alex Paglumotan, Environment and Natural Resources Office (Enro) officer Max Selio and Dr. Grace Tan of City Health Office (CHO) inspected the site following complaints of foul odor from residents of Barangay Handumanan.
Sayson said the residents complained about the foul odor allegedly coming from the abattoir's water that drains into the nearby stream.
"We saw there was a leakage. We told the AVM manager that they have released water that is not yet suitable (treated) for release and they should follow the zero policy discharge. Also, before they release the wastewater, it should be treated within the standards," he said.
Sayson also noted that AVM failed to immediately dispose condemned parts of slaughtered animals. "They just put it in an area inside the abattoir (prone) to (infestation) of flies and sometimes dogs go inside the abattoir and carry spoiled meat that causes the foul odor."
However, he said there is no need for the city to order the new abattoir's closure because the present problem could be solved.
Meanwhile, lawyer Ernesto Urbano, general counsel of AVM Bernardo Engineering, wrote Mayor Evelio Leonardia with regard to the payment of rental fees.
He said that under Section 12, Article IV of the memorandum of agreement for the completion and operation of the slaughterhouse dated February 7, 2007, AVM Bernardo should pay the city rental fees upon the start of the slaughterhouse's operation based on the agreed payment schedule.
"We had a soft opening last July 31, 2008, followed by the formal opening thereof on August 16, 2008. Despite this, the old slaughterhouse in Barangay 35 remained open until November 4, 2008 on the intercession of church and barangay officials acting on behalf of protesting employees and other sectors affected by the transfer to the new slaughterhouse," Urbano said.
As such, AVM started full operation of its hogs and cattle lines only after the old slaughterhouse was closed last November 5. "The chicken line operation also has to be deferred because of the anticipated strong and virulent opposition from sectors engaged in the trading and sale of chicken."
The company is now in a quandary as to when its operations would be considered to have fully opened and hence, when they are required to pay the rental fees stipulated in the MOA.
