Sorry, but no lechon on Wednesdays and Sundays.
The city government set every Wednesday and Sunday as general sanitation and disinfection schedule at the city abattoir, lechonan, and the market for hogs and goats in an advisory signed by Mayor Benjamin Magalong dated Oct. 7.
The advisory was issued was issued after the city noted clustering of Covid-19 cases among 144 individuals at the Slaughterhouse-Sto. Niño barangay as of Oct. 5.
Of the 144 cases, 54 are butchers, 65 are close contacts of butchers, 11 are workers in the meat section, six are employees of the City Veterinary Office, three are contacts of CVAO employees, and five are personnel of the City Treasury market office.
The operation of the City Abattoir was suspended for disinfection from Sept. 22 to 24 followed by a hard lockdown over the whole Slaughterhouse-Sto. Niño barangay from Sept. 24 to Oct. 7 due to the outbreak.
With the resumption of operations, guidelines were issued for all livestock dealers, meat retailers, drivers, haulers, and butchers with work operations and transactions at the Baguio city abattoir and livestock market for hogs and goats.
The city government now requires all livestock dealers, drivers, haulers, and butchers to present negative RT-PCR results before they can be allowed to enter the facility.
“The RT-PCR test must have been conducted within the last 72 hours prior to their entry, and thereafter they must subject themselves to rapid antigen on or before the 25th day of every succeeding month,” the advisory reads.
Acceptance and arrival of animals for slaughter is from 11 am. to 8 p.m. only.
Livestock dealers and meat retailers may be allowed to enter the abattoir for hauling animal carcasses only.
Upon entry into the abattoir, butchers must present their gate pass and meat handler’s license issued by the CVAO.
Further, all persons entering the abattoir must accomplish contact tracing forms, and shall properly wear face masks and face shields; for butchers, they must also wear their hard hat, white boots, and white t-shirts.
Butchers shall not be allowed to go to the city market while on duty, and must assist in the regular disinfection of their work stations after their duty.
The guidelines may be amended or revised according to subsequent recommendations of the City Health Services Office in consideration of risk assessment and response measures to the Covid-19 pandemic. – Jessa Samidan
