Press Release
February 15, 2011

Villar calls for intensified campaign vs botcha

Sen. Manny Villar today called on government to intensify its efforts to inform the public about botcha or double dead meat and its harmful effects on people.

Villar, chairman of the Senate Committee on Trade and Commerce, stated that graphic warning signs should be placed in strategic areas around the market place to help people distinguish botcha from fresh meat and its harmful effects when consumed by people.

"Kung specific ang possible side effect, mas matatakot ang tao," Villar pointed out during the committee hearing on bills requiring the labeling of imported meat and the proliferation of botcha in Metro Manila markets and other parts of the country.

He said the people should be aware that botcha is harmful just like how the people know now that smoking causes cancer.

"Kung may billboard sa labas ng palengke, mapapahiya sila, madi-discourage silang magbenta ng botcha," Villar said.

National Meat Inspection Commission (NMIC) Executive Director Atty. Jane Bacayo said they already placed billboards in market places telling the public that eating botcha causes LBM, vomiting and food poisoning.

Villar said he is open to the recommendation of the NMIC to increase the fine for selling botcha to P25,000 to P500,000 from the original P1,000 to P10,000. Period of imprisonment should also be increased to six months to six years from the original period of two months to one year.

Bacayo also asked for additional personnel so they can ably man the over 1,500 slaughterhouses in the country. At present, NMIC has 311 personnel.

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