BACOLOD City Executive Assistant Ernie Pineda, cluster head on markets, said on Wednesday the operation of Task Force Botagoy helped increase the production of the AVM Bernardo-run city slaughterhouse in Barangay Handumanan.
Pineda said the personnel were deployed to various public markets on Saturday, although they failed to arrest violators.
“The Task Force Botagoy forced meat suppliers to use the services of AVM Bernardo to avoid violations,” he said.
The Task Force is headed by Rex Juplo of the Office of the City Veterinarian, with Pineda, Councilor Bartolome Orola, chair of committee on markets and slaughterhouse, Senior Superintendent Flynn Dongbo, acting city police director, Dr. Olga Lucas, acting regional director of National Meat Inspection Service, Joselito Bayatan, head of City Legal Office, and Danny Dangcalan, head of Public Information Office.
Pineda said the management of AVM Bernardo informed them that there has been a big increase in its production last month compared to the past few months.
He added in October, AVM recorded a total of 11,623 animals.
Last month, Mayor Evelio Leonardia issued Executive Order No. 20 reconstituting and reorganizing Task Force Botagoy, a unit tasked to monitor and seize illegally slaughtered animals.
Pineda said they are monitoring the three major markets in the city, and those who will be apprehended will pay the penalties. Also being monitored are the markets in various barangays and supermarkets in malls.
He said that animals should be slaughtered only at the City Government’s slaughterhouse in Barangay Handumanan.