Provincial Vet Holds Meat, Food Safety Seminar
The Cebu Provincial Government, through the Provincial Veterinary Office, hosted the meat and food safety seminar on Friday, Oct. 5.
At least 60 meat inspectors, city veterinarians, slaughterhouse administrators and municipal agriculturists from the 53 municipalities and cities, including the highly-urbanized Cities of Cebu, Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu, participated in the activity held at the Diamond Suites and Residences in Cebu City.
Dr. Mary Rose Vincoy, the provincial veterinarian, said the seminar reoriented the participants on the local government units’ role and regulatory functions on meat inspection.
“Gi-reorient nato and re-visiting sa mga new administrative order. Naay mga bag-ong twist and additional nga mga components sa mga previous administrative orders so gi-revisit and gi-emphasize unsa ang ilang specific role sa province, city and municipality,” said Vincoy.
The seminar was supposed to be funded by the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS). Due to lack of funds, the Provincial Government sponsored the event as this will be beneficial to the municipalities and cities in Cebu.
Among of the topics tackled during the event were the Guidelines for the Implementation of Meat Inspection Service by the LGUs, Guidelines on Good Hygienic Slaugthering Practices for locally-registered meat establishments, Guidelines on Post Meat Establishment Control, Rules and Regulations on Hygienic Handling of Newly-slaughtered Meat in meat markets, and Rules and Regulations on Hygienic Handling of Frozen and Thawed Meat.
The guest speakers were Laarnie Abragan, Ma. Liz Calunsag and Dr. Alvin Leal of the NMIS.
Vincoy explained that they included the highly urbanized cities like Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu and Cebu in the seminar because there are times that the meat from one area may be delivered to another jurisdiction.
“We have to work hand in hand para magkasinabtanay ta. Kay og naay mga i-impose nga regulations sa provincial level like sa municipalities nga under sa atoa, makasabot sad ang Cebu City and then ug naa sad silay base sa ilang ordinance makasabot sad ang mga lungsod og nganung there are times nga ma-confiscate kay either kulang og certificate or ang meat van dili registered so naay mga procedures nga kinahanglan i-address,” she added.
