Livelihood committee formed to help displaced abattoir workers
BACOLOD CITY -- Bacolod City Cooperative Head Brenda Budeos confirmed yesterday that Mayor Evelio Leonardia created a livelihood committee to sustain the need of affected abattoir workers by giving them food and livelihood assistance.
Budeos said that that the residents in three barangays affected by the closure of the old slaughterhouse are now conducting a series of meetings to come up with a program that could sustain their daily needs. Families of affected abattoir workers are preparing to submit their program of works like soap making, meat processing and swine fattening program to address their concerns, Budeos added.
Budeos attended the dialogue last Tuesday at the Bishop's Palace to present to the abattoir workers the plans of the city. Most of the workers were absorbed by the AVM Bernardo Engineering Services but others were not because they failed to submit their application letters.
The old slaughterhouse is given until August 31, 2008 to continue operation as compromise agreement while the city cooperative is awaiting the program of works to be submitted by the affected workers.
Leonardia said that this is now the last chance given to the residents and the city will proceed to the closure of the slaughterhouse as agreed by the AVM Bernardo Engineering Services.
The compromise agreement was made possible after Bishop Vicente Navarra of the Diocese of Bacolod intervened in the conflict between the city government and the affected residents of the three barangays.
Budeos has no definite figure or total budget for the livelihood projects of the affected residents yet because she will first validate on how many residents were affected by the transfer of the operation of the old slaughterhouse to its new site.
She is also looking at the option that if the proposed projects and program of work will not materialize, the residents will be made to avail of cash assistance from the city's lending program. She further stressed that the Department of Social Services and Development (DSSD) is now preparing food assistance to the affected families of Brgy. 35.