Press Release - Tolentino seeks multi-agency support to strengthen the National Meat Inspection Service

Senate Majority Leader Francis 'Tol' Tolentino is seeking multi-agency support for the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) of the Department of Agriculture (DA) to ensure the safety and quality of Philippine meat products.

At the celebration of the 31st Meat Safety Consciousness Week held in Quezon City, Tolentino also stressed the urgency of strengthening the NMIS amid serious threats to local producers, such as the spread of the African Swine Fever (ASF), and declining domestic production.

In his speech before agriculture officials and stakeholders, Tolentino cited the impressive meat inspection systems of Chile and Argentina, which are considered among the world's top meat producers and exporters.

Only by strengthening the NMIS, the senator said, can the country strive to become a source of safe and quality meat products.

The senator, however, acknowledged the many challenges faced by NMIS. Thus, he emphasized the steps necessary to raise the quality of domestically produced meat.

"One, there should be greater collaboration with the Department of Health (DOH). Two, there should be greater support from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). Three, I believe the NMIS should be well-funded. And four, we should aspire to be like Chile and Argentina by becoming exporters of our meat products," Tolentino pointed out.

Aside from collaborating with the DOH and DOST, Tolentino also urged the NMIS to work actively with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to enhance its systems and branding.

It may be recalled that Tolentino previously called on the government to declare a national state of calamity due to the spread of ASF, which has severely affected hog producers.

Asked in a media interview if the state of calamity should still be pursued, the senator responded: "Even without the declaration, the government is already making efforts, like vaccine procurement and increasing public awareness. But ASF is not something that can be easily stopped. It's up to the President to make the decision, because with a state of calamity, a national price freeze can