City abattoir head seeks P38M budget

CEBU, Philippines - The head of the Cebu City abattoir is requesting the City Council to approve her proposed 2012 budget of P34.8 million because half of the amount will be spent to construct a new slaughterhouse and to buy for some equipment.

Dr. Alice Utlang said the city’s slaughterhouse used to be the most modern in Central Visayas in 1980s, but now it has become dilapidated.

She said it is very shameful that while Cebu City is a first class city in the region, its abattoir is no longer accredited by the National Meat Inspection Commission.

The huge portion of the P36 million annual revenue of the city abattoir came from collections of slaughter fees, while the rest are from payment of the facility, registration and licensing fees.

Utlang said she recommended that if the council will approve her proposed budget of P15 million for the construction of a slaughterhouse, the building will be built on the vacant lot adjacent to the existing abattoir at the North Reclamation Area.

There were suggestions that if the city will construct a new abattoir, it will be on the lot near the seashore in Barangay Mambaling. The lot has been identified by the City Hall officials in 1980s.

But Utlang said she is not in favor of the Mambaling area because of the presence of many illegal occupants there.

There were earlier plans that the new slaughterhouse will be constructed in Barangay Kalunasan.

Aside from the P15 million for the building, Utlang suggested P500,000 for purchase of equipment for slaughter of large animal slaughter and for the upgrading of existing equipment for hogs.

She also plans to spend another P500,000 for furniture and other fixtures of personnel, metal bench for the waiting lounge for the livestock suppliers, and freezers for meat products.  (FREEMAN)