MAS mabigat na parusa sa pagbebenta ng “botcha” o hot meat, ang isinusulong ngayon sa Kamara de Representante para pigilan ang paglaganap nito sa bansa.
Base sa House Bill 4190 nina Reps. Rufus Rodriguez (2nd District, Cagayan de Oro City) at Maximo Rodriguez Jr. (Party-list, Abante Mindanao), papatawan ng parusang pagkakakulong ang importers, distributors at nagbebenta ng “double dead” na karne, nang hindi bababa sa isang taon at hindi lalagpas ng dalawang taon, at ng multang P50,000 hanggang P500,000.
Ang panukalang batas ay naglalayong baguhin ang Republic Act 9296 o Meat Inspection Code of the Philippines, layon din tanggalan ng license to operate business ang sino mang susuway dito.
“The penalty for the sale of hot meat is confiscation and the imposition of administrative fines. These sanctions are not enough,” ani Rodriguez.
Ayon kay Rodriguez, aminado ang National Meat Inspection Commission na hindi epektibo ang kasalukuyang batas para pigilan ang mga mapagsamantala at ganid ng mga negosyante.
“The practice has now become prevalent in the country especially in Metro Manila, which is very unfortunate because this jeopardizes both consumers and producers by endangering health and disturbing market stability. Double dead meat contains germs and micro-organisms that could cause illnesses like diarrhea and food poisoning,” dagdag ni Rodriguez.
(JETHRO SINOCRUZ)