To provide consumers with premium meat products, the Iloilo Provincial Government, through the assistance of the World Bank, is establishing a Double-A abattoir in the municipality of Concepcion located at Sitio Anak Bukid, Barangay Loong.
Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. spearheaded the groundbreaking ceremony on March 8, 2024, together with Provincial Administrator Raul Banias, Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) Deputy Project Director Engr. Jose Albert Barrogo, Mayor Milliard Villanueva, municipal officials, and Punong Barangay Rizalino Panes. Jr.
They were also joined by Provincial Engineer Romeo Andig, Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Darel Tabuada, Provincial Planning and Development Officer Mario Nillos, and Executive Assistant to Gov. Niel Tupas III.
The abattoir can cater to 50 heads per day for swine and 8 heads per day for cattle and adheres to the standards of the National Meat Inspection Service.
It features a slaughterhouse, holding pen, boiler and generator set room, water treatment facilities, and decomposing chambers which ensure compliance with animal welfare, food safety, and environmental standards.
Engr. Andig said that upon its completion in November of 2024, a cheaper butcher fee for cattle is expected from P2,000 to P800 and from P600 to P405 for swine.
Governor Defensor said the facility could also contribute to the local economy by providing an additional source of revenue through job opportunities and marketable high-quality meat.
He added that the abattoir could also aid the province in covering African Swine Fever (ASF) by venturing into the pork processing industry.
“We export 8,000 swine heads to Luzon every month but we don’t process pork products. With a high-standard slaughterhouse, we can have a processed pork industry. Instead of exporting heads, we should export processed meat. It will give us an additional source of revenue,” Defensot said.
The P29.950 million facility is funded through the Philippine Rural Development Project of the Department of Agriculture and is situated on a 4,407 square meter lot.
The World Bank is shouldering 80 percent of the project cost while the DA and the provincial government each have a counterpart of 10 percent. (Capitol News)
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