BUTUAN CITY - A total of 26 individuals comprising agricultural extension workers, veterinarians, and slaughterhouse staff completed the Basic Meat Inspection Course (BMIC),  a joint project by the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) 13 and the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS)-Caraga which ran from July 3 to 30, 2025, at the ATI-RTC XIII, Los Angeles, Butuan City.

During the training, participants learned key skills and rules for checking meat. They studied the Meat Inspection Code of the Philippines (R.A. 9296). They were engaged in hands-on experience on proper ante-mortem and post-mortem inspections, which are crucial in detecting signs of diseases or abnormalities in slaughtered animals. The training covered hygienic slaughtering practices, meat classification, and the identification of contaminated or unsafe meat, ensuring participants could effectively check animals before slaughter and inspect the meat afterwards.

The training included visits to local slaughterhouses and cold storage facilities, letting participants practice what they learned in a real-world setting. The visits included De Ajecc Slaughterhouse, Cabadbaran Slaughterhouse, Sto. Tomas Municipal Slaughterhouse and Malagos Slaughterhouse in the Davao Region. Additionally, participants toured cold storage warehouses, including Jentec Cold Storage, Lifeberg Cold Storage, and Viking Cold Storage in Davao City.

Participants shared positive feedback on the training's impact. Rodelo P. Madiano, a participant from the Provincial Veterinary Office-Surigao del Sur, praised its comprehensive approach. "I am very grateful to ATI and NMIS for this training. It did not just add to our technical knowledge; it also strengthened our sense of responsibility to our communities," he stated.

Cyril L. Alegre of LGU Dapa, Surigao del Norte, emphasized the practical benefits, noting, “I learned a lot from this training, especially about meat inspection. These lessons are essential to us who work in the government to ensure that the meat that we eat is safe.”

The participants formulated their re-entry plans to apply their new skills in their own communities within the next six months.