Violy Bondoc, a meat vendor at the Cabanatuan City Public Market, said they have yet “to feel the heat of the controversy” but a lot of their customers have started asking about the report of ebola reston infection.
Another stall owner, Aling Rowena, said their business has been crippled already by the recent opening of the Robinson’s Mall, where its wet markets offers meat products as well as stores whose specialty is meat.
“Hindi pa kami nakababawi, eto na-ebola virus issue na naman,” she said.
Dr. Ricardo Bautista, city veterinarian, was reluctant to speak on the issue saying the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) has already created a crisis management team. “Statements would profound the issue,” he said. But he assured consumers of safety of meats being sold in the local market.
Hogs slaughtered in the city abattoir, he said, underwent a series of inspection even before admission to the establishment and before the meat would finally be brought to market.
He said consumers are advised to look for meat inspection tags if only to ensure safety.
About 105,000 heads of hogs are slaughtered in the city annually. Only about 10 to 15 percent of the figures are raised in this city. The rest comes from adjoining municipalities, Bautista said.
But apparently due to economic slowdown, November 2008 activity showed only an average of 196.60 hogs are butchered daily.
