KIKO LAUDS SIGNING OF ANTI-BOTCHA LAW

Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan says that the President's signing of the Republic Act 10536, amending the National Meat Inspection Code of the Philippines, will help deter the selling of double-dead meat in the market.

"We thank the President for signing RA 10536 into law," says Pangilinan, principal author of the law. "It was our intention to update the National Meat Inspection Code and make relevant its salient features-such as imposing stiffer penalties in order to curb the selling and trading of double-dead meat in the market."

Under RA 10536, any violator of the act, upon conviction, shall be punished by imprisonment of not less than six (6) years and one (1) day but not more than twelve (12) years or a fine of not less than One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000) but not more than One million pesos (P1,000,000), or both, depending upon the discretion of the court.

RA 10536 also provides for some restructuring in terms of the composition of the National Meat Inspection Service, which is the primary agency responsible for ensuring that the meat that lands on families' tables are certified and are safe for consumption.

If the offender is a public official, the penalty shall include perpetual disqualification from public office.

"Kailangang pangalagaan ang kapakanan ng taumbayan laban sa walang pakundangang pagbebenta ng botcha, na nagdudulot ng sakit at kamatayan. Buhay ang nagiging katapat ng kasakiman. Sa pamamagitan ng bagong batas na ito, umaasa tayong may masasampolan na para maparusahan na ang mga sakim at walang-kaluluwang nagbebenta ng botcha."

Pangilinan also adds that ASEAN integration by 2015 "requires us to ensure quality meat products that are competitive with the global market."

The ASEAN Integrated Food Security (AIFS) Framework and Strategic Plan of Action on Food Security in the ASEAN region (SPA-FS) aims to: (1) increase food production; (2) reduce post-harvest losses; (3) promote conducive market and trade for agriculture commodities and inputs; (4) ensure food stability; (5) promote availability and accessibility to agricultural inputs; and (6) to operationalize regional food emergency relief arrangements.