NATION

Aurora butchers sharpen knife, meat-handling skills

Jonas Reyes · Aug 2, 2026, 1:22 AM

Raising the standard Butchers, meat inspectors, and meat handlers in Aurora undergo training on animal welfare, hygienic slaughtering, and food safety to strengthen standards across the province. — Photograph courtesy of Provincial Government of Aurora

Butchers, meat inspectors and meat handlers underwent a two-day Animal Welfare and Hygienic Slaughtering Training at the Women in Integrated Development and Empowerment (WIDE) Center in Barangay Calabuanan, Baler, Aurora.

The training aimed to strengthen compliance with animal welfare, meat hygiene and food safety standards in the province.

The program, dubbed Upscaling of Butchers on Animal Welfare and Hygienic Slaughtering, was organized by the Provincial Veterinary Office and the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS).

Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Angelo R. Silvestre and Dr. Cheryl Marie Bartolome-Abuyuan opened the training.

Lectures by Dr. Sittie Maleah Fatima Macog-Hassan and Marilou N. de Leon covered NMIS regulations, proper animal handling and butchering, slaughterhouse sanitation and maintenance and occupational safety.

The second day featured hands-on demonstrations at the Baler and Maria Aurora slaughterhouses, where participants observed proper slaughtering procedures, meat processing and the humane treatment of animals.

The activity concluded with an evaluation to assess participants’ understanding of the training.

Participants welcomed the free training, saying it enhanced their knowledge and skills in meat handling and slaughtering.

Meat handling in the Philippines is regulated by the NMIS under Republic Act 9296, or the Meat Inspection Code of the Philippines.