Department of Agriculture-Cordillera Executive Director Cameron Odsey turned over two freezer vans and four units of chest freezers to the city government led by Mayor Benjamin Magalong on Nov. 14 under its Kadiwa Cold Chain Project.
City Veterinary and Agriculture Office head Silardo Bested said the DA and city government already awarded 54 chest freezers to various local beneficiaries on Nov. 14.
He said the freezer vans will be used to transport agricultural commodities such as meat products, fruits, and vegetables from farms in the city to the public market.
“The project aims to ensure safe distribution and handling of both local and imported chilled and frozen meat in the wet markets and other meat outlets in the city,” Bested said.
Based on existing food safety rules, Bested said imported frozen meat and meat products may only be sold in wet markets that have proper refrigeration systems or equipment.
“The outbreak of African swine fever in the country that started in July 2019 and being experienced until now is greatly affecting the spike in prices of local pork due to the reduction of supply,” he said.
He said to ensure the availability of the supply of pork and stabilize its price, imported frozen pork has been widely distributed in wet markets and supermarket outlets. – Gaby B. Keith
