The Provincial Veterinary Office of Negros Occidental is encouraging local government units to establish their own meat shops and meat processing centers to control the influx of imported meat and meat products in the province.

Dr. Renante Decena, provincial veterinarian, said yesterday that a monitoring report on the entry of imported meat and meat by-products for May showed a total of 82 tons were imported to the province, 40 tons of which are pork and 42 are chicken.

Decena said that in their previous monitoring they only recorded an average of 10 tons of imported meat and meat by-products monthly, adding that the sudden increase poses a threat to the local market.

“We need to strengthen our local production of meat and this can only be done if LGUs will have their own meat shops and meat processing centers where they can group together all their meat processors and address the needs of the local market,” Decena said.

He also said hog associations can work with the local government in the establishment of meat shops and processing centers.

Decena cited the cities of Sagay, Sipalay, and Kabankalan and the municipality of Mucia which have already established their meat shops and processing centers that have sustained the needs of their local markets.

He added that with this project, Negros Occidental can group all meat shops and processing centers and can work together in the meat production and create a brand name for the province.

Meanwhile, 10 qualified meat processors will undergo training on meat processing and marketing with the Bureau of Animal Industry-Animal Product and By-Product Center on June 7 and 8 in Iloilo City, Decena also said.

He added that there also has to be a good marketing strategy to make the products saleable in the local market.*LTG

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