The idea of coming-up with a newsletter for the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Alaminos came as an off-shoot of the insistent demand of city hall employees and the local citizenry to be updated on issues pertaining to the operation of the local government unit of the City of Alaminos.

Though well-coordinated with each other, the various LGU Departments have projects inherent in their respective departments. This is why, a medium through which information may be relayed has to be created. Thus, ISLA is born, the official newsletter of the Hundred-Island City of Alaminos.

Through ISLA people may have a clearer view of what is happening in every department of the City Government.

Each department head/section chief is required to submit, on a monthly basis, an article concerning news and information depicting their department's/section's share in the smooth operation of the LGU. Recent projects and programs shall also be included.

With ISLA's aim to bring transparency to LGU's operation and to bring to fore the developmental thrusts of the City Government, we are confident that our readers will eagerly anticipate each issue we print and distribute.

Happy reading! ! !

Meat inspection in the Philippines dates back as early as the Spanish regime by the authority of a royal Decree issued on May 31, 1828. The first record on meat inspection however under government supervision started in Manila only in 1843 at an abattoir located behind the Grand Opera house in Rizal Avenue, Manila.

The meat inspection service then was under the supervision of a Capitan Mariscal connected with the Spanish Army Ante-mortem inspection was conducted in the afternoon while post mortem inspection was done at the middle of the night. In those early days, one or two kerosene lamps were used for lighting during slaughter inspection. Post-mortem inspection was performed by the inspector who used to sit comfortably on a very high chair with nothing in mind but Cysticercosis. He viewed the different carcasses from this angle although in reality nothing could be seen at this distance. Aside from this, he himself did not incise the masseter muscles (in case of pigs) but allowed only the butcher to do it. Among the internal organs, only the liver was inspected. There was very good reason therefore to believe that at that time, meat inspection was only in name.

Under the American regime, the meat inspection service in Manila was organized by Veterinarian from the United States Federal Meat Inspection Services. Meat inspection was then conducted by a veterinary surgeon under the public Service Commission of Health. Later, it became a part of a Division of the Animal industry which was the nucleus of the present Bureau of Animal Industry when the former Bureau of Agriculture was divided into the Bureau of Plant Industry and Bureau of Animal Industry. The supervision of meat inspection then was under the Bureau of Health.

Through the untiring efforts of the late Director Gregorio San Agustin Commonwealth act. No.82 was passed by the Philippine National Assembly in 1936 and by then a real meat inspection service that conformed with acceptable practices was established here. With this Act, the supervision and control of meat inspection in the Philippines was transferred from Bureau of Health to the Bureau Of Animal Industry Since then positions of meat inspectors were created in many cities and municipalities under the supervision of Bureau of Animal Industry.

When Martial was declared in 1972, President Ferdinand Edralin Marcos issued Presidential Decree No. 7 and Letter of Instruction no.16 which established the National Meat Inspection Commission. This Agency is tasked to promulgate specific policies and procedures governing the flow of livestock / poultry intended for human consumption through the various stages of marketing, preservation and inspection of their products. It also exercise supervision and control over meat establishments and meat inspection system in the country. NMIC likewise assist Local Government Units develop capabilities and promote consumer awareness and welfare.

Because of local autonomy which provides for Under Republic Act. No.7160, or other known as Local Government Code of 1991, meat inspection was transferred to the LGU. More so, comes, executive Order No.137, then provides for THE IMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATIONS TO GOVERN THE DEVOLUTION OF CERTAIN POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF THE NATIONAL MEAT INSPECTION COMMISSION TO THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS.

Public health is everybody's concerned No amount of materials, alibi's and any other reasons that compromise for it. One of the means to safeguard the valuable health of the public is to ensure that meat, the meat consuming public is buying must be safe, clean, wholesome, quality, and health. To realized this, an effective and efficient meat inspection must be instituted

In the present set-up of our city's meat inspection services, there are technical personnels manning meat inspection. THE SLAUGHTERHOUSE MASTER, whose responsibility is the overall operation of our abattoir, THE MEAT INSPECTOR who was undergone rigid skills training from the National Meat Inspection Commission (NMIC), and his responsibility is to conduct ante-mortem, post mortem and post abattoir inspection, and to augment shortage of personnels doing gargantuan work, there are three (3 ) TEMPORARY DESIGNATED MEAT INSPECTORS at the time.

The meat inspection system has three (3) phases; Phase I - THE ANTE MORTEM INSPECTION - when the meat inspectors examine and observe the live animals in the portion of the slaughterhouse called corrals,

stockyard, and lariage, to ensure to that the animals are diseased free. abnormality free and are fit for slaughter., Phase II THE POST MORTEM INSSPECTION - hen the inspectors examine the carcass and offals or condemn a portion if he sees that it is not fit for human consumption. If the meat is okay, the inspector then brand the meat with "INSPECTED AND PASSED" and be issued with "MEAT INSPECTION CERTIFICATE", Phase III - THE POST ABATTOIR INSPECTION - when the inspection is done in the market, which main objective is to check the entry of "HOT MEAT" (meat from illegally slaughtered animals). In this phase the meat inspector inspect meat in the meat stalls by checking the meat brand bearing ."INSPECTED AND PASSED" and "MEAT INSPECTION CERTIFICATE".

May we urge the meat buying public, that the next time you buy meat in the market, always ask for Meat Inspection Certificate and look for the Meat Brand, as guarantee that the meat you are buying has passed through proper meat inspection. And likely, we seek your support by reporting illegal slaughter of animals and trade of meat and other meat products so that we can act accordingly to put these hazardous practices to halt.

The multi-sectoral meeting on Rabies control, which was held on September 13, 2002, was a resounding success

Participants came from different barangays, NGO's, farmer and fisherfolk organizations and other sectors of society. The good attendance indicates the desire and the willingness of participants not just to be informed, but also to be equipped on how to combat the spread of rabies in our city. The ultimate goal though is not just to minimize its incidence, but primarily to eradicate it completely within the next few years.

The City Government will boost its campaign against the dreaded rabies by:

RABIES CONTROL

The City Government in the implementation of City Ordinance No. 2002-03, otherwise known as "an ordinance controlling and preventing the spread of rabies disease and describing penalties for violation thereof and for other purposes" through the Office of the City Veterinarian will undertake a massive vaccination campaign which involves putting up of vaccination centers in every barangay. This will then be preceded by an information dissemination drive and consultations with Barangay Councils and Barangay Health Workers. Educating dog owners about "RESPONSIBLE PET OWNERSHIP" will need the following:

1. Additional personnel coming from related line agencies and interns from different veterinary schools to augment the existing personnel.

2. Sufficient funding from the City coffers and from savings of the City Government for the out-going year which may be realigned in favor of the anti-rabies campaign.

CITY POUND

Through City Ordinance No.2002-10 otherwise known as "an ordinance establishing a city pound in the City of Alaminos, Pangasinan, appropriating contain amount thereof and other purposes" the City Government will appropriate funding for the City Pound. However, the appropriated amount by the Sanguniang Panlungsod for the implementation of said ordinance is not enough to cover even just the half of its budgetary requirements. To ensure the smooth and effective implementation of this ordinance, it will need the following:

a. A spacious building to accommodate the impound animals;

b. Vehicle to be used in catching stray animals and for other purposes;

c. Salaries and benefits for the personnel of the City Pound;

d. Office equipments, fixtures, cages and other necessities for the City Pound.

It is therefore earnestly recommended by this office that the P 500,000.00 that has been appropriated for the implementation of the City Pound Ordinance be increased to P 1.5 million to ensure the success and effectivity of the implementation of the ordinance.

With the dynamic leadership and strong political will of our local chief executive, we envision for a "RABIES FREE ALAMINOS" in the next five to ten years in that, our beloved city will have a special place in the map of our country as a rabies free city. Tourist will love even more to visit the Hundred Islands, because we are free from one of the most dreaded zoonotic disease.