The Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) is set to make history, as the first AAA Slaughterhouse subproject in the Project’s history has been approved by the MIMAROPA Regional Project Advisory Board (RPAB), along with two additional subprojects, during a virtual meeting held on June 28, 2021.

With the official subproject title of “Establishment/Construction of AAA Hog Slaughterhouse” and an approved project cost of PhP280 million, the facility is set to be constructed in a three-hectare lot located at the Municipality of Boac, Marinduque. Upon completion, the subproject aims to benefit around 42,000 farmers in the province, and to be able to supply premium quality meat here and abroad.

The DA-PRDP has a number of pipelined slaughterhouse subprojects, however, this is the first time that a Class AAA slaughterhouse will be put on the works. Compared to Class A and Class AA slaughterhouses which are fit to produce meat for the domestic market, a Class AAA slaughterhouse is a fully automated facility that can provide quality meat fit for international trade.

Marinduque Governor Presbitero Velasco, Jr., who was one of the presenters along with the Provincial Project Management and Implementation Head Marian Cunanan, expressed his gratitude to the DA-PRDP and the RPAB members during the board meeting.

“This will be one of the main strategies by which we can provide a lot of income and revenue to our beloved province of Marinduque. Maraming salamat po sa patuloy niyong pagsuporta, (thank you so much for your continuous support) and thank you also for the other projects which you generously bestowed to the province of Marinduque,” Governor Velasco said.

Two more subprojects approved

Aside from the slaughterhouse, two more subprojects were approved during the said meeting, one of which is the Construction of Oriental Mindoro Trading and Consolidation Facility in the Municipality of Victoria. The subproject, with a total cost of PhP34 million, aims to provide farmers with an appropriate trading post where they can sell their produce in a competitive price.

The last subproject to be approved is the Concreting of Barangay Waygan to Barangay Balugo Farm-to-Market Road (FMR) in the Municipality of Mansalay, Oriental Mindoro. This FMR has a total length of 6.54 kilometers and a total project cost of PhP150 million.

The RPAB meeting was spearheaded by RPAB Chairman and Project Director Antonio Gerundio, CESO III, DPA and was participated by the RPAB members that include Project Development Management Unit Chief Lorenzo Suarez from the Department of Local and Interior Government (representing Dir. Wilhem Suyko); Planning Chief Rene Parreño from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (representing Dir. Elizer Salilig); Agrarian Reform Program Chief Fe Guevarra and Engr. Melvin Ethel Tirao from the Department of Agrarian Reform (representing Dir. Marvin Bernal); Chairman Junior Supnet from the Regional Agricultural and Fisheries Council; and Planning and Design Section Officer-in-Charge Chief Rosa Consolacion Escalada from the Department of Public Works and Highways (representing Dir. Yolanda Tangco).

Also present in the board meeting were Deputy Project Director Engineer Annielyn Del Rosario and Director Roberto Umali of the National Meat Inspection Service MIMAROPA.

All three approved subprojects aim to address poverty incidence in their respective municipalities, and to provide better livelihood opportunities for our local farmers.  (Danica A. Brutas, DA-PRDP MIMAROPA RPCO InfoACE Unit)

RPAB members, subproject presenters, and members of the MIMAROPA RPCO pose for a virtual group photo before the board meeting was adjourned. (Photo by Danica A. Brutas, DA-PRDP MIMAROPA RPCO InfoACE Unit)