The Quezon City Veterinary Office (VO) has closed down seven dressed chicken suppliers’ facilities at a public market for violating provisions of the sanitation and meat inspection codes.
The VO’s sanitation enforcement team, assisted by field personnel of the local Market Development and Administration Department (MDAD), confiscated several chicken heads during the operation, city veterinarian Ana Maria Cabel said.  
Earlier, Cabel had called for a strict monitoring of different dressed chicken facilities in the city to ensure they conform to sanitation standards prescribed by the local health department.     
During the operation at the Kamuning Market, Cabel noted that most of the facilities were operating without proper drainage system and tiled flooring.     
Owners of the facilities are also liable to six months imprisonment and a fine of P1,000, the city veterinarian said.
To date, the permits issued by the MDAD only allow owners of these chicken shops to operate as retailers and wholesalers, and not as operators of slaughterhouses, Cabel said.  
In her recommendation, Cabel cited as imperative the need for chicken shops to comply with the city’s business requirements, or they will no longer be allowed to operate.
Under Republic Act 9396, otherwise known as the Meat Inspection Code of the Philippines, local meat establishments are required to secure business permits to facilitate their registration with the National Meat Inspection Council.
Meanwhile, the QC government has stepped up the campaign against illegal operation of pedicabs in some of the major roads in the city.
The city’s department of public order and safety (DPOS) ordered the crackdown after receiving complaints against illegal terminal, obstruction of driveways and sidewalks and counter-flow driving.
The DPOS headed byElmo San Diego formed a team to go after the illegal pedicab operators in the city.
As on Feb. 14 up to June 21,  the QC tricycle regulation unit  was able to apprehend 73 pedicab drivers and their units. The drivers and units were later released after they had paid the fines and penalties.
Some of the major roads where the apprehensions took place were Agham Road , NIA Road and Edsa, the Tribune was told.