Intensify campaign vs botcha, says Sen. Villar

Senator Manuel Villar on Wednesday renewed his call for an intensified government campaign against botcha or “double dead" meat. "Our task is to recommend the enactment of a concrete policy that will bridge the gaps in existing laws including proper labeling and massive information campaign that should be undertaken to combat botcha meat," Villar said at a Senate hearing on proposed measures covering meat products. Villar, who lost in the May 2010 presidential race, explained that he wants to obligate government on an information drive against botcha, specifically through posters and billboards illustrating the negative effects on people’s health when they consume botcha. Government should have in place a more efficient monitoring system against vendors selling the meat of animals that have died before of other causes their cadavers were butchered for the market, the senator said. "We are persistent in resolving the meat labeling and "botcha" issues, as it affects public health. It also somehow affects the economy when honest businessmen in the meat and poultry industry suffer loss in sales due to the high disparity in prices between certified meat and double dead," he said during the hearing. "Many poor Filipinos would rather take their chances on ‘double dead’ meat to save a few pesos, not knowing the dreaded effects it might cause their health," he added. Villar, chairman of the Senate committee on trade and commerce, earlier said he is open to increasing the penalty against people caught selling botcha to P25,000-P500,000 from P1,000-P10,000 as recommended by the National Meat Inspection Commission. The commission also suggested a lengthier prison term of six months-six years from two months-one year. On Wednesday, the commission also suggested that government take advantage of the proliferation of botcha by selling the meat to makers of animal feed. —VS, GMA News