DA exec clueless on P150-M slaughterhouse master plan

A TOP OFFICIAL of the Department of Agriculture (DA) said his office has not received any master plan for the Iloilo City slaughterhouse.

DA Assistant Secretary for Regulations and the Visayas Hansel O. Didulo said they are still waiting for technical specifications from the technical working group of the Iloilo City government so they can come up with the estimated budget for the improvement of the slaughterhouse.

“It is true na ongoing ang collaboration namon with city government and kapila na kami magbalik sa slaughterhouse to check the situation and to assess but regarding sa report, wala kita sang may nabaton nga master plan personally, biskan sa aton opisina,” Didulo said.

Recently, Local Economic Enterprise Office (LEEO) head Jose Ariel Castañeda said that the master plan for the rehabilitation and expansion of the Iloilo city slaughterhouse will cost at least P150 million.

Castañeda said the plan, which contained mechanical, electrical, civil works, site development, and the required machinery, was submitted by the City Engineering Office on August 2, 2018.

“May mga additional pa nga ginalantaw like sewage treatment plant, service vehicles, and waiting area for the sanitation of the facility and to avoid contamination. The Department of Agriculture already committed P100 million for the rehabilitation,” he added.

But Didulo said their office has no budget for the proposed P100-million rehabilitation.

“Ang budget na nga P100 million wala na siya legal basis kay in the first place wala kami kabalo so we need to know. Subong, it is very unfortunate to say nga wala kita sang P100 million kay in the first place wala pa request kung pila ila kinahanglan,” he said.

With the proposed P150-million master plan, Didulo said that it would be possible to build a new slaughterhouse.

“Kung mag P150 million ang proposed budget, we can improve the existing slaughterhouse or we can construct a new one para ma-correct ang structural defects,” he mentioned.

During a committee hearing on the public markets and slaughterhouse of the City Council, Castañeda said they are experiencing difficulties in the purchase and maintenance of facilities and equipment for the slaughterhouse because of limitations by the procurement law.

He also admitted that some of the facilities and equipment in the slaughterhouse are dysfunctional because of the everyday operations.

Operating 364 days a year, the slaughterhouse caters to around 150 hogs and 20 large animals every day but lacks certification from the national government due to poor structural and technical facilities.

Despite the delay in rehabilitation, he assured that the slaughterhouse can still supply meat to consumers.

“From the surplus that we have acquired in 2017, we will be able to repair scalding vat and de-hairing machine in due time and we will be to serve customers with the same,” he noted.

SOURCE; The Daily Guardian

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