VIRAC, CATANDUANES — With the Groundbreaking Ceremony of the AA Slaughterhouse Facility, held in Virac on February 1, 2024, the island of Catanduanes will soon have its first abattoir funded under the Department of Agriculture Philippine Rural Development Project (DA PRDP). The upgraded National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS)-compliant slaughterhouse will have a capacity of 1,723 swine heads and 224 large ruminant heads per month. 

The Municipality of Virac in Catanduanes’ existing slaughterhouse in Brgy. Bigaa, this municipality is a two-decade old structure funded by the NMIS. Based on data from the Municipal Agriculture Office, the locally registered meat establishment (LRME) has an average monthly slaughter of 78 heads cattle and 529 swine heads. However, in 2020, the existing facility was damaged by Typhoon Rolly which further limited its operation. 

According to DA PRDP Deputy Project Director Adelina Losa, this is a milestone for the province of Catanduanes for the project will ensure both food security and food safety in the island. She added that the DA PRDP-funded slaughterhouse is typhoon-resilient and comes with a generator set to guarantee continuous operation despite inclement weather especially that Catanduanes is considered as a disaster-prone area. She also recommended the use of solar panels as sustainable energy source. 

In his message, NMIS Bicol Regional Director Dr. Alex Templonuevo mentioned a World Health Organization (WHO) report which claimed that consumption of contaminated meat causes flu-like symptoms in humans. According to WHO, lack of hygienic practices in animal husbandry and food handling cause this bacterial disease called brucellosis which commonly infect animals like swine, cattle, and goat. He also underscored that animals to be slaughtered for commercial purposes must pass the NMIS’ ante-mortem inspection and post-mortem inspection to certify that it is safe for consumption. 

“Digdi po mangyayari yan sa bagong NMIS-standard slaughterhouse through the DA PRDP. Aram ta man po island province medyo harayo sa kadakulan and the need for the movement of meat that is safe for the consuming public is a must,” he said. 

Mayor Samuel Laynes of Virac thanked the DA PRDP for funding the P43.99 million-worth infrastructure development (I-BUILD) subproject. 

“Maraming salamat sainyo. We assure you na ito ang isa sa pinakamagandang slaughterhouse sa buong Bicol. We will ensure na this project will be class A ang pagkagawa and sisiguraduhin natin na it will fit the plan and specification of the building. Pag nagawa ito, this will be an economic enterprise,” he said. 

Among the DA PRDP-funded slaughterhouse’s features are the 254.63-square meter building, 112.50-square meter holding pen, and a lagoon type wastewater treatment facility. The Project also includes a guard house, access road, pavement, 17 units streetlights, car port, electrical room and pump house.  About 26 personnel will handle the facility’s operation. 

The AA slaughterhouse is projected to increase the income of livestock farmers in Catanduanes by producing premium quality of meat from Virac native swine and cattle. These can be shipped out of the island as frozen products. About 702 cattle raisers, 575 hog raisers, 42 meat shop owners, 152 resorts and guest house and food service providers as well as 16,502 households will benefit from the project. Likewise, adjacent municipalities of Bato, San Miguel and Baras may also avail of slaughtering services once the facility is operational. 

NMIS Infrastructure Focal Antonio Suarez, personnel from the DA PRDP Regional Project Coordination Office, as well as local officials and department heads of the Municipality of Virac including Vice Mayor Dr. Arlynn Arcilla and Municipal Councilor Lemuel Surtida attended the groundbreaking ceremony. 

The I-BUILD subproject is targeted for completion in December 2024. # (Annielyn L. Baleza, DA PRDP RPCO V InfoACE/DA RAFIS V)