ILOILO City – The business plan for the improvement of the slaughterhouse in Barangay Tacas, Jaro district is now up for approval.
Despite the coronavirus pandemic, the city government remains in talks with the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center for the improvement of the slaughterhouse and the redevelopment of the Iloilo City Central Market and the Iloilo Terminal Market, according to Mayor Jerry Treñas.
The PPP Center will present the abattoir business plan to the Sangguniang Panlungsod next week.
Treñas said several investors have already expressed interest.
“I am very happy because that would mean we will get the best offer,” he told Panay News.
Improving the slaughterhouse is one of Treñas’ priorities.
The city-run slaughterhouse failed to get any rating or classification – A, AA or AAA – from the National Meat Inspection Service, the country’s sole controlling authority on all matters pertaining to meat inspection and hygiene.
Meat from an unrated slaughterhouse may have adverse effects on the local economy, warned Agriculture assistant secretary for Visayas Hansel Didulo in a previous interview.
An A classification means meat from the slaughterhouse can be transported within the city only while an AA classification means the meat can be transported outside the city.
An AAA classification, on the other hand, means the meat from the slaughterhouse is safe enough to be shipped abroad.
The slaughterhouse was constructed and became operational in the later part of 2007. It deteriorated through the years.
NO MORE OBJECTION
Treñas also disclosed that the vendors’ association in the Iloilo Central Market is no longer objecting the planned redevelopment of the market.
Rex Donasco, president of the association who earlier raised objections, met with him and expressed support to the project.
“Waay na sila objection so we will proceed. Ginakalipay ko nga tanan naga-support,” Treñas said.
Three investors are interested – Megaworld Corp., Ayala Corp. and SM Development Corp.
In 2019, the city government entered into a memorandum of agreement with the PPP Center for these priority undertakings.
The PPP Center espouses the PPP scheme – a contractual agreement between the government and a private firm targeted towards financing, designing, implementing, and operating infrastructure facilities and services traditionally provided by the public sector.
This scheme, said Treñas, frees a portion of the city government’s budget for social projects beneficial to the people./PN
