New city slaughterhouse operational soon
The city government is expecting to operate before the end of this year a slaughterhouse in Barangay Tacas, Jaro.
Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas said finishing touches are being implemented at the Double A abattoir project with the city providing counterpart fund as equity on top of the 2.4 hectare lot and perimeter fence provided for the project.
The city will seek an P11 million soft loan from the Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (DA-ACEF) in order to complete the additional civil works, cattle line equipment and concreting of access road.
Treñas also said that city congressman Raul T. Gonzalez Jr. is set to provide one electric generator worth P1.5 million for the abattoir project.
On the other hand, the Department of Agriculture, through the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS), has allocated some P21 million for the project to cover Building A slaughterhouse worth P6 million which was already completed, a P5.5 million holding pen for animals with water system, P5.5 million waste water treatment facility and the installation of various hog line equipment worth P4.5 million.
The waste water treatment facility consists of a series of lagoon wherein waste water is filtered and finally recycled for other uses, while the holding pen is a waiting area fro animals to be slaughtered.
Treñas is optimistic that with the completion of the abattoir project, the city is now ready to export carcass or choice-cut porks and other meats anywhere in the country.
The old city slaughterhouse was put up more than 50 years ago to serve the needs of city residents for safe and clean meat cuts in public markets here.
(PNA)