Several local government units in the SOCCSKSARGEN Region are still operating slaughterhouses that do not meet standards, according to the Department of Agriculture-SOCCSKSARGEN (DA-12).

In General Santos City, the slaughterhouse in Barangay Mabuhay continues to serve local meat vendors but has yet to secure accreditation from the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS).

Because of this, meat processed there cannot be sold outside the city.

“Hindi pa natin na- accredit yan to double A. Pero meron tayo dito Double A  sa mga private slaughterhouses natin,” City Veterinary Office (CVO) Meat Inspection Division Head, Dr. Bernado Bulawan, said.

However, the local government has already taken steps for NMIS accreditation. In fact, documents are now being processed for the operationalization of a standard slaughterhouse building in Barangay Sinawal.

“Yan ang challenge namin ngayon, yung sa local natin dapat ma-accredit na yan para magiging standard pero ngayon so far gina-follow naman natin yung protocol ng NMIS maging malinis,” Bulawan added.

Aside from General Santos City, there are still several towns in the region – mostly in Sultan Kudarat – that also fail to meet the standards. Some of them do not even have slaughterhouses.

“According to NMIS, we have 11 municipalities na may slaughterhouse but yung iba hindi standard. Yung ibang municipality wala talaga. According sa kanilang mayor, pasalamat sila sa RAFC (Regional Agriculture and Fishery Council) na andiyan tumutulong kasi ni remind sila sa food safety ng ating mga meat,” Regional Agriculture and Fishery Council Focal Person, Jocelyn Romansanta, said.

DA said standardizing slaughterhouses would greatly help strengthen food safety measures, such as preventing the sale of “hot meat” or double-dead meat and further develop the meat industry in the region.