Bacolod City Mayor Greg Gasataya is demanding AVM Bernardo Slaughterhouse in Barangay Handumanan to settle its outstanding arrears amounting to P4.6 million.
In a formal demand letter, the mayor specified that the unpaid balance covers 36 months of unsettled rental obligations from January 2022 to January 2025.
“We just want to be fair with all business establishments in the city,” Gasataya stated.
He emphasized that the demand is more than just a warning and that the operator must comply or face consequences.
“We have necessary and appropriate measures if they fail to comply with the demand,” he added.
The current monthly rental fee is set at P129,883.05.
Prior to this, the city council had called for a fact-finding investigation to address complaints regarding the abattoir’s services, facility upgrades and rental delinquencies.
AVM Bernardo Engineering Services has been operating the city’s abattoir since 2000, under a contract with the city government that is set to expire in 2028./WDJ