The meat and meet
TWO Saturdays ago, I meet with a group of meat vendors in response to a letter they sent requesting for an audience. We met at the Amphitheatre of the Baguio City Hall Park, just below the flagpole. Three issues came out after the meeting.
Issues on meat market zoning in the market because there are at least 100 meat vendors found in the carinderia building, the Rillera, outside Hanger, Block 3 and they are compliant. However, there are now meat stores outside the perimeter of the market and these have issues on their compliance with regards to meat handling and disposal.
Another issue they raised was the pricing that the meat vendors are selling wholesale and retail at the same price. This practice is threatening the other vendors as they cannot sell their goods because they cannot lower their prices.
One issue that was raised was the business permit issued. Some have a permit of being a retailer, but they are selling as wholesalers. The issue was as a hog dealer, can it also carry the permit as a wholesaler. The issue was clarified by the veterinarian, that a hog raiser is selling the carcass as a whole and not as a choice cuts to the buyer. The wholesaler sells the cut meat for the main purpose of resale and the retailer is sold for the buyer’s consumption for business, for parties, or for family food regardless of the number of kilos.
That Saturday meeting has generated other meetings held with agencies involved in meat products, some meetings were also conducted by the offices of the city to understand the situation in the meat market.
It also led to the first meeting of the meat inspection task force formed with City Executive Order 54–2020. It also led to a meeting of vendors in regards to the formation of their associations, with even a suggestion that they form one organization embracing all meat vendors,
SANGAL DI KULTURA, 9