NMIS LEADS STRENGHTENING OF CENTRALIZED SLAUGTHERHOUSE SERVICES IN METRO NAGA
The National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) reaffirmed its commitment to food safety and public health as eight clustered municipalities in the Province of Camarines Sur—Bombon, Camaligan, Canaman, Magarao, Milaor, Minalabac, Gainza, and Pili—renewed their partnership with the Naga City District Abattoir on March 26, 2026. This milestone builds on the initial collaboration established in 2020, when six municipalities—Bombon, Magarao, Canaman, Camaligan, Gainza, and Milaor—first entered into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with Naga City.
Notably, these six local government units had no existing slaughterhouse facilities, increasing the risk of “hot meat” proliferating not only within the province but across the entire Bicol Region. In response, NMIS led the clustering of these LGUs and the establishment of the Naga City District Abattoir as a centralized facility—an essential mitigation measure to control African Swine Fever (ASF) and ensure the safe and regulated movement of meat products. Through NMIS guidance and technical support, the centralized slaughterhouse system became a critical strategy in strengthening meat inspection services and preventing the spread of animal diseases. Further expanding this initiative, later in 2023 the municipalities of Bombon and Minalabac was successfully integrated as an additional clustered LGU, further reinforcing the coverage of areas without slaughterhouse facilities, with the municipality of Pili. In 2026 renewal, Officer-in-Charge, Executive Director Dr. Fernando N. Lontoc, underscored the agency’s pivotal role in advancing a safe, reliable, and sustainable meat supply chain. He emphasized that centralized abattoirs are key to safeguarding public health and intensifying efforts against the proliferation of “hot meat” in communities through strengthened collaboration with local government units. Naga City Mayor, Hon. Maria Leonor G. Robredo, Chairperson of the Metro Naga Development Council (MNDC), expressed her support for NMIS initiatives and acknowledged the strong partnership among local government units. She highlighted that the renewed agreement ensures tangible benefits for Naga City, its neighboring municipalities, and the general public by guaranteeing access to safe and high-quality meat products. The Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signing gathered key local officials from the partner municipalities, along with representatives from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), reinforcing a unified commitment to uphold food safety standards and protect consumer welfare. Text by: Mr. Fortunato G. Quijano
