GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews / 12 Nov) – The Department of Agriculture (DA) has released an initial P20 million for the development of a modern regional abattoir complex here.
Engr. Ginalyn Fe Cachuela, project manager of DA’s Socsksargen Area Development Project, said the funds will be utilized for the construction of the abattoir’s main building and other related facilities at its site in Barangay Sinawal here.
She said they completed late last month the bidding and awarding process for the project, which is a component of the agency’s food security program.
“The preparatory works at the site are currently ongoing and we expect the construction phase to begin before the end of the month,” she told MindaNews.
Cachuela said the construction of the building and its component facilities will take about eight months.
A DA-12 briefer said the project covers the development of an AA-grade abattoir as well as packaging and storage facilities.
It was designed by the DA’s Bureau of Animal Industry, through the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS).
The NMIS said AA abattoirs have sufficiently adequate facilities and procedures that make their products suitable for sale in all markets.
Cachuela said the city government has committed a counterpart fund of around P15 million to cover for the acquisition of the required equipment of the abattoir.
The local government will also provide for the operational and other logistical needs of the facility, she said.
The official said the city government had pushed for the construction of the facility due to the deteriorating condition of its abattoir.
She said use of the city abattoir is currently limited as it has been downgraded to the A-grade for failing to meet the standards for the AA-grade category.
DA-12 officials earlier said the abattoir will serve as the main processing facility for pork and other meat products that will be shipped outside the region.
It will specifically cater to the processing of cut pork meat products that will be shipped starting next year to various markets in the Middle East.
“We need an AA-grade abattoir here to ensure the quality of our meat products, especially those that will be shipped to other countries,” she added.
