A CITY Economic Enterprise (CEE) official said that they are conducting an investigation regarding a viral Facebook post of a public market customer who allegedly bought “bariles” (tuna) that has been dipped in coloring.
Maximo Macalipes, CEE officer-in-charge, said he had set a meeting with market supervisors and the City Veterinarian’s Office to identify the Facebook user and ascertain whether the event really happened.
“Ako nang gi-instructionan ganiha ang (I’ve instructed our) market supervisors in Bankerohan to keep checking sa kadtong mga gipang-baligya na isda not only sa Bankerohan (of the sold fishes not only in Bankerohan) but other public markets,” Macalipes said in an interview with SunStar Davao.
As per their initial investigation, Macalipes said they have yet to verify the identity of the Facebook user and they have to determine where exactly in Bankerohan Public Market she bought the fish from.
In a Facebook post, user Jes Marie noticed that the fish appeared to have been intentionally colored to make it look fresh. When she came back home to wash the fish, to her dismay, the coloring was washed out as well.
“Unta ma aksyonan or naay mgbntay sa bangkerohan public market sa balay nku kbntay na naay coloring ang barelis na isda [sic] (I hope this incident will be given attention in Bankerohan Public Market. I just noticed it when I went home, the fish was dipped in coloring),” the user posted in Davao City's Public Forum (Safety&Security/Police911/Traffic Support Group) Facebook group.
“Ngbyad ta ug tarung unya tagaan rta ug ingn ani na isda [sic] (I paid responsibly but then I had been given a fish dipped in coloring),” she added.
In an interview with SunStar Davao, the user said she bought the fish last March 8 around 5:30 P.M.
“It's my first time makapalit ug ingun-ani sa ka dugay-dugay nako og palengke sa Bankerohan (that I bought that fish out of how many times I’ve been buying in Bankerohan Public Market),” Jes Marie said.
With this, Macalipes said they, along with the City Veterinarian’s Office and the City Health Office, are ready to sanction public market vendors who violate the mandated standards: ensuring fish and meat sold in markets are fresh and safe for human consumption.
“But gina-caution pod nato daan ang atong mga vendors na dili jud siya pwede ang ing-ato na ilang gibuhat (We warned our vendors that these illegal activities are untolerable),” Macalipes said.
He said that they mandate their inspectors to inspect daily the public markets in Bankerohan, Tibungco, Bunawan, Lasang, Agdao, Toril, Mintal, and Calinan.
“Other public markets are privately owned such as in Buhangin, Matina, Piapi, so we do not have any jurisdiction over those markets,” he said.
Meanwhile in SunStar Davao’s monitoring in Bankerohan Public Market, a vendor who requested anonymity said they are receiving allegations from some customers, saying “all” of their fishes are dipped in coloring.
“Naa man sad gu’y uban costumer na mupalit ug frozen kay maka-less sila (Other customers are opting to buy frozen fish as they are cheaper),” ‘Jake’, a public market vendor, said.
“Kung gusto sila’g nindot na quality sa isda, mga presko jud ilang paliton (If they want high-quality fish, they must buy it fresh),” he added.
Meanwhile, the Bureau of Fishes and Aquatic Resources-Davao Region (BFAR-Davao) said they are currently gathering relevant information about the viral post, and will release a statement as soon as possible. ICE