Arroyo, Yap expected in new abattoir inauguration
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap are expected to grace the inauguration of the multi-million double A abattoir in Barangay Tacas, Jaro before the end of the month.
Mayor Jerry Treñas said President Arroyo was invited to the inauguration just in time for her visit in Negros Occidental.
The DA has contributed some P35 million for the completion of the new slaughterhouse.
Treñas is hopeful that private investors will invest in the new city slaughterhouse particularly in the setting up of a blast freezer for its refrigeration needs to further upgrade the slaughterhouse to triple A.
Blast freezing is required for meat products for export purposes and also for shipping meat and pork products in the the different parts of the country. The shipment is made easy with the RORO trips.
The multi-million slaughterhouse, which is situated on the 2.4 hectares lot in Barangay Tacas, could process some 500 heads of hogs, 40 cattle and 20 heads of carabao per day.
Having blast freezing at the new abattoir will add demands for pork products package through the government's "pork in a box" program. Choice cut pork commands higher price in the market compared to live hogs and cattle.
An estimated 8,000 to 12,000 heads of live hogs pass through Iloilo City and shipped every month to Manila, Cebu and Dumaguete.