One of the innovations of the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) to evaluate the completed subproject is the Operations and Maintenance Audit System (OMAS). The Monitoring and Evaluation Learning (MEL) unit together with the I-BUILD, and Finance Unit visited the subproject AA Slaughterhouse in Ragay, Camarines Sur on June 19, 2024.

Since its operation in January 2024, the slaughterhouse has served many farmers in the hygienic slaughterhouse of 1,057 hogs, 66 cattles, and one goat to date.

According to Analiza Verdan, Meat Inspector, the weekly average of hogs and cattles being slaughtered is 65.

“Sa weekdays po, nag-ooperate po kami ng 12 midnight to 8am po. Kapag weekends, 7pm ng Sabado hanggang 7am ng Linggo.”

Benedict Almario, Municipal Agriculture Officer, said that they provided training and seminars for the personnel operating the slaughterhouse. One of the seminars were Food Handling Seminar for Ragay Slaughterhouse Personnel conducted in February 2024 and Slaughterhouse Operation and Management Training. They also established an ordinance for the slaughterhouse operations to maintain the cleanliness of the slaughterhouse and to comply with the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) and PRDP standards. 

“Nagcoconduct tayo ng OMAS para makita kung sirang-sira na yung kalsada at building. Yung mga nasa early stage palang ang sira napapalitan na kaagad para hindi na ito totally masira at less po ang gastos compare sa total remove and replace”, Engr. Jimbo Bjorn Salceda, Rural Infrastructure Engineer said.

According to Ceejay Quimco, Finance Analyst I, the involvement of the finance unit in the OMAS is important in overseeing the implementation of operation and maintenance (O&M) plans at the LGU level, particularly in maintaining the quality and condition of the subproject.

“This activity emphasizes the need of post-construction assessment in ensuring that completed subprojects are not only effectively established but also the desired advantages are realized”, he added.

Ragay Slaughterhouse is Bicol’s first AA slaughterhouse funded by the Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP). It is also the first PRDP-funded slaughterhouse in the Philippines. # (Shaira Enimedez, PRDP RPCO InfoAce Unit)