Senator Joel Villanueva urged the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) to strengthen meat safety enforcement and provide local governments with the necessary equipment, training, and technical support following the confiscation of approximately three metric tons of uninspected and improperly handled meat worth ₱634,000 at the Malolos Public Market in Bulacan on October 16.
A similar incident occurred in September in Santa Maria, Bulacan, where the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) intercepted an estimated 10 to 15 metric tons of frozen chicken worth around ₱7 million amid allegations that confiscated imported meat intended for destruction was being offered for sale.
“Hindi po sapat na mangumpiska tayo ng karne sa palengke. Kailangan matukoy kung saan ito nanggaling, paano ito nakalusot, at paano natin pipigilan na maulit. Our enforcement must go beyond the market stalls,” Villanueva said.
Villanueva stressed that consumers should be able to trust that meat sold in public markets has undergone the required inspections and has been handled safely.
“Families should not have to choose between affordable food and safe food. Hindi natin dapat ipasa sa mamimili ang responsibilidad na alamin kung ligtas ang bawat kilo ng karne na binibili nila. That responsibility belongs to the entire food safety system,” he said.
The senator also emphasized the need to protect legitimate livestock and poultry producers, meat processors, and market vendors who comply with inspection and food safety requirements.
“Bulacan has a strong livestock and poultry industry, and we have producers, meat processors, and market vendors who invest in complying with food safety standards. We must protect them as well as our consumers. Hindi patas na ang mga sumusunod sa regulasyon ay kailangang makipagsabayan sa mga produktong hindi dumaan sa parehong standards,” the Bulakenyo senator said.
Citing the shared responsibilities of NMIS and local governments under the Meat Inspection Code, Villanueva called for stronger coordination, adequate inspection equipment, personnel training, meat traceability systems, and proper disposal facilities, including safeguards to ensure the secure custody and verified destruction of confiscated meat to prevent its reentry into the market.
“May malinaw na responsibilidad po ang ating mga LGU sa pagpapatupad ng meat inspection standards, pero kailangan din nila ng sapat na kagamitan, training, at technical support mula sa national government. Dapat nagtutulungan po ang NMIS at mga lokal na pamahalaan para maging tuloy-tuloy ang inspeksyon at enforcement,” he said.
Villanueva said violations of meat-handling requirements must be met with appropriate enforcement action, including administrative penalties where warranted. He stressed that repeated violations despite prior warnings should prompt stricter monitoring, follow-up inspections, and clear accountability.
He further urged the NMIS, local veterinary offices, market administrators, and law enforcement authorities to conduct coordinated, unannounced inspections to verify the origins, inspection documents, and transport conditions of meat entering public markets.
“Food safety cannot depend on occasional market raids. We need a system that works every day, from the slaughterhouse to the public market. Proteksyon ito para sa ating mga mamimili, para sa ating mga magsasaka at livestock producers, at para sa mga negosyanteng sumusunod sa batas,” Villanueva concluded.
