ILOILO – A newly inaugurated “Double A” slaughterhouse in Barangay Lambuyao, Oton town is expected to boost this province’s meat production, accelerate recovery from African Swine Fever (ASF), and catalyze local economic development, provincial officials said.
The P59.918-million facility, funded through the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP), was officially turned over by the Iloilo Provincial Government to the municipality of Oton on July 22. Designed to meet National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) standards, the abattoir has the capacity to process 16 pigs per hour and 12 cattle per day — serving not just Oton but also nearby towns including Alimodian, Tigbauan, San Miguel, Pavia, and even Iloilo City.
Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. said the project is an investment in food safety, rural livelihoods, and economic recovery.
“I look forward to enjoying the meat produced by this abattoir. Because of this, we can now ensure the quality of the meat we provide to our community,” said Defensor, who often visits the Oton public market on Sundays for breakfast and meat shopping.
He also emphasized the abattoir’s potential to revitalize the swine industry, which suffered heavy losses during the ASF outbreak that first hit Oton.
“Makadto kami diri alas 5 sang aga kag magkaon sang linágá nga karne. Preparahan ninyo ina,” he added, referring to his plans to enjoy freshly prepared boiled meat from the facility.
The governor highlighted the importance of maintaining stringent biosecurity protocols to ensure both food safety and market confidence, particularly with the rise of domestic tourism.
“We must maintain the highest levels of cleanliness in our slaughterhouse to effectively cater to domestic tourists,” he said.
The facility includes a 352-square-meter slaughterhouse, a 232-meter perimeter fence, a 163-square-meter holding pen, and a 62.5-square-meter boiler room—all constructed to optimize operational efficiency and regulatory compliance.
Funding for the project was made possible through a tripartite scheme: the World Bank covered 64.29 percent or P38.525 million; the Iloilo Provincial Government contributed 27.67 percent or P16.578 million; and the Department of Agriculture provided the remaining 8.04 percent or P4.815 million.
Defensor was joined at the inauguration by key officials from the provincial government, the municipality of Oton, Barangay Lambuyao, and representatives from the Department of Agriculture, underscoring the collaborative push toward sustainable rural development./PN
