Bacolod to operate new slaughterhouse

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — The new slaughterhouse in Barangay Handumanan would be ready to operate before the end of this month, AVM Bernardo Engineering lawyer Ernie Urbano said in a press conference at the site. Mr. Urbano said the facility was issued an environment compliance certificate by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on July 4. Once operational, the slaughterhouse will boost the image of Bacolod as the cleanest and greenest city, he added. The slaughterhouse will assure the people of Bacolod of safe, clean and quality meat. It will also help Bacolod become a prime tourist destination and assure tourists that they will get safe and quality food when they go to the restaurants and resorts in the city," he said. He added that the operation of the new slaughterhouse will give the city a savings of P10 million a year and an income of P3 million in rental and regulatory fees. He said the city is now spending about P6 to P7 million a year in subsidizing the operation of the old slaughterhouse in Brgy. 35. "We encourage hog raisers outside of Bacolod to have their animals slaughtered here so the city can earn more money in terms of regulatory fees," Mr. Urbano said. Only accredited meat vans can deliver meat to the markets, he added. The slaughterhouse is capable of slaughtering 75 hogs and 20 cattle per hour and will be open 24 hours a day. It can slaughter between 700 and 800 heads a day and they can also sell meat to Manila and other provinces. They will also put a dressing plant for poultry products in the facility, he added. Mr. Urbano said AVM Bernardo has invested P54 million in the rehabilitation and operation of the facility. Based on the contract entered into between the city and the contractor in 2006, the facility will revert back to the city government after 20 years, he said. Mayor Evelio R. Leonardia said the slaughterhouse would definitely be a major factor in the health, hygiene and sanitation program of Bacolod. "As this is going to be the biggest and most modern slaughterhouse in Western Visayas, our meat will be safe, the quality will also improve because it will be fresh and not adulterated since there will be less human intervention," he said. — C.G. Samillano, BusinessWorld