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The Manila City government has formally taken over the operation of
a slaughterhouse in Vitas, Tondo after its former owner, a private
meat-processing firm, failed to pay their dues to the city
government.
Mayor Alfredo Lim issued the directive Tuesday,
thus putting the formerly Dealco Farms Inc.-owned slaughterhouse
under the wings of the Office of the City Administrator.
The Mayor’s move came after Dealco failed to
comply with an agreement, which stipulated that the company will
settle its dues to the city government provided that Lim’s office
would show transparency by providing clear information on the amount
of unpaid fees and the process of payment.
Lim ordered City Administrator Jesus Mari Marzan
to take charge of all the slaughterhouse’s facilities and
appointed former Manila traffic cop Col. Francisco Co as Veterinary
Inspection Board chief.
Lim further cracked the whip by pushing for the
replacement of all the Dealco personnel manning the slaughterhouse.
“The meat processing firm still has to pay
fees since acquiring its contract to operate the slaughter house in
2000,” Lim said. “Their unpaid obligation has amounted to P44
million to date.”
“We did not do anything wrong since we are
only doing it for the benefit of the city,” Lim added in reaction
to Dealco executive vice-president Joyce Alcoriza’s claims of an
illegal takeover.
Hundreds of hogs and cows are being slaughtered
each day in the abattoir as it provides more than 30 percent of the
meat supply of the city’s 33 public markets.
-- Rommel C. Lontayao
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