- BERT BAYORAN
Six local government units in Negros Occidental are each getting a grant from World Bank, through the Philippine Rural Development Project, for the construction of a slaughterhouse in their respective areas.
Of the six “Double A” standard slaughterhouses, Provincial Administrator, Atty. Rayfrando Diaz, yesterday said that the construction in Cauayan and Hinobaan is now up for bidding.
On the other hand, the bidding for the slaughterhouses in Murcia, Binalbagan, Toboso, and San Carlos City will follow soon, with EB Magalona catching up, Diaz said.
Each slaughterhouse has a budget of P50 million, 80 percent of which will be a grant from World Bank, 10 percent is equity from the province, and 10 percent from the Department of Agriculture, the provincial administrator said.
“The project aims to improve the safety of food, especially meat products, which should be processed in slaughterhouses, to minimize contamination,” Diaz added.
He noted that backyard-slaughtered meat products are often dirty.
The food security program of Negros Occidental was highlighted by Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson during his inaugural address when he started his second term as the provincial chief executive./GB
