Department of Agriculture allots P139 million for slaughterhouse upgrade

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Agriculture (DA) is spending P139 million for the upgrade and construction of 18 AA slaughterhouses in various municipalities  this year until 2013. 

The DA-National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) yesterday signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with 18 municipalities for the provision of financial assistance ranging from P5 to P10 million for each municipality for the upgrade and construction of AA abattoirs. 

NMIS will provide the technical expertise for the upgrade of existing and construction of new slaughterhouses.

The municipalities, in turn, would provide counterpart equity in the form of lots, coverage of administration cost, land development assistance, access roads, as well as power and water supply.

The municipalities of Tuao, Cagayan; Basco, Batanes; Lucban, Quezon; Tangkayawan, Quezon; Tiaong, Quezon; Real, Quezon; Polilio, Quezon; Agoncillio, Batangas; Bansud, Oriental Mindoro; odiongan, Romblon; Roxas, Capiz; San Joaquin, Iloilo; Ibajay, Aklan; Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo; Padada, Davao del Sur; Mati, Davao Oriental; Tagum, Davao del Norte; and Isulan, Sultan Kudarat would benefit from the financial assistance.

NMIS director Minda Manantan said the upgrade of existing slaughterhouses and construction of new ones in the chosen  municipalities wouldenable livestock raisers to meet the quality standards of meat processors.

“This will address the sanitation concerns of meat processors,” she said in an address during the signing of the agreement. 

The funding for the upgrade and construction of the 18 AA slaughterhouses was originally intended for the construction of two AAA (export-oriented) slaughterhouses in Luzon, the construction of which were deferred next year.

Manantan said that of the P180 million in original funding, P139 million would be used for the construction of the slaughterhouses while the remaining funds would be used to establish cold chain systems for the transfer of the cuts to meat processors.

Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said the upgrade of some of the slaughterhouses have already  started.

He said the DA is also considering the addition of biodigesters in the slaughterhouses to be used in the generation of the abattoirs’ power requirements.

Alcala said the construction of two AAA slaughterhouses in Luzon are expected to finally push through next year.

“We have already  identified locations and we are evaluating the best place. We also need the support of the local government unit,” he said.

The original budget of P180 million for the AAA slaughterhouses may be increased.

The government is postponing to 2013 the construction of two export-oriented slaughterhouses in Luzon because  the local government units (LGUs) that are the intended beneficiaries of the project are not yet prepared to host the abattoirs.

The slaughterhouses would enable hog raisers to supply the cuts required by meat processors.