RAGAY, CAMARINES SUR – Bicol’s first AA slaughterhouse funded by the Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) was recently turned over by Senior Undersecretary Domingo F. Panganiban to the LGU of Ragay. This World Bank-financed I-BUILD subproject worth P27.93 M is also the first PRDP-funded slaughterhouse in the Philippines.

Established in Barangay Agrupacion the 2,000 square meter AA slaughterhouse was designed to produce 690,361 kilos of hog meat and 78,624 kilos cattle meat per annum and is estimated to benefit 12,333 households in Ragay, Camarines Sur. Aside from the main slaughter building, it has eight hog holding pens, one cattle holding pen and other equipment.

“Truly this project is worth emulating,” Senior Usec. Domingo F. Panganiban said. “This is one of the PRDP’s relevant interventions that can contribute to our goal of inclusive growth as it will benefit several segments of the value chain. This will provide consumers with clean, fresh and quality meat that is compliant with our standard of hygienic slaughtering and promote our strategic agenda of ensuring access to affordable, safe and nutritious food for all,” Usec. Panganiban added.

Dr. Clarita Sangcal, National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) Executive Director, was impressed with the project. “When we say PRDP project, it is one of a kind…with an standardized design. Sana po ay maikalat sa buong Pilipinas itong slaughterhouse project ng PRDP….Aayusin natin, sa tulong ng DA Regional Office yung operations at compliance sa national standards ng AA slaughterhouse na ito,” she said.

Ragay Mayor Thaddeus Ramos in his acceptance speech, thanked the DA-PRDP NPCO and RPCO 5, and the National Meat Inspection Service Bicol for the speedy completion of the slaughterhouse. “Kaakibat nito ang responsibilidad. Pangalagaan natin ito at ibahagi natin sa iba upang tumagal,” he urged the stakeholders present.

DA Bicol Regional Executive Director Rodel P. Tornilla said that the construction of the facility started on December 10, 2021 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and it was completed on December 12, 2022. The public bidding at the LGU commenced on May 10, 2021 and Notice to Proceed was issued on December 7, 2021. The LGU of Ragay shared over P2,793,580.62 as equity to the total project cost of P27,935,806.16.

“This facility will definitely improve the quality of meat produced here and will greatly help in the prevention and control of African Swine Fever (ASF). It will also enable our hog raisers and meat vendors to deliver quality meat products to a wider market. More opportunities will be made available to livestock growers as the local meat that will be produced in the facility can now be marketed anywhere in the Philippines,” Director Tornilla added. The project is expected to increase farmers’ income by 5% and annual marketed output by 7%.

Also present during the inauguration and turn over were Engr. Arnel V. De Mesa, DA Assistant Secretary for Operations; PRDP South Luzon Project Director Milo delos Reyes; Shandy M. Hubilla, Deputy Director, Philippine Rural and Development Project (PRDP); Adelina A. Losa, PRDP Bicol Deputy Project Director; Dr. Domingo Gonzaga, NMIS Bicol Regional Technical Director; Dr. Alex Templonuevo, NMIS Senior Meat Control Officer; DA Bicol RTD for Research Edgar R. Madrid; Members of the Sanggunian Bayan of Ragay; livestock farmers and swine industry stakeholders.

The operations of the facility will be managed by the LGU of Ragay ang Municipal Agriculture Office led by Municipal Agriculturist Benedict Almario. The LGU of Ragay plans to procure reefer van to ensure that butchered meat remains safe and clean even during transport.

The slaughterhouse will benefit about 6,693 livestock/hog raisers, 1,774 RSABA-registered farmers, 132 registered meat shop owners and restaurant/eatery owners in Ragay.

The same AA slaughterhouses will be constructed by the DA – PRDP in five other municipalities, namely: Daraga, Albay; Buhi and Bula, Camarines Sur; Gubat and Barcelona in Sorsogon with total amount of P264.4 Million. Also included in the I-BUILD subproject is the improvement of the existing AA slaughterhouse in Tabaco City, Albay. (Lovella P. Guarin / with reports from Annielyn Baleza)

Photo credit: Eduardo Collantes, Jr. and Hermito Privaldos – RAFIS 5)

DA PRDP turns over P27.93M AA slaughterhouse in Ragay, Cam. Sur

RAGAY, CAMARINES SUR – Bicol’s first AA slaughterhouse funded by the Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) was recently turned over by Senior Undersecretary Domingo F. Panganiban to the LGU of Ragay. This World Bank financed I-BUILD subproject worth P27.93 M is also the first PRDP-funded slaughterhouse in the Philippines.

Established in Barangay Agrupacion the 2,000 square meter AA slaughterhouse was designed to produce 690,361 kilos of hog meat and 78,624 kilos cattle meat per annum and is estimated to benefit 12,333 households in Ragay, Camarines Sur. Aside from the main slaughter building, it has eight hog holding pens, one cattle holding pen and other equipment.

“Truly this project is worth emulating,” Senior Usec. Domingo F. Panganiban said. “This is one of the PRDP’s relevant interventions that can contribute to our goal of inclusive growth as it will benefit several segments of the value chain. This will provide consumers with clean, fresh and quality meat that is compliant with our standard of hygienic slaughtering and promote our strategic agenda of ensuring access to affordable, safe and nutritious food for all,” Usec. Panganiban added.

Dr. Clarita Sangcal, National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) Executive Director, was impressed with the project. “When we say PRDP project, it is one of a kind…with an standardized design. Sana po ay maikalat sa buong Pilipinas itong slaughterhouse project ng PRDP….Aayusin natin, sa tulong ng DA Regional Office yung operations at compliance sa national standards ng AA slaughterhouse na ito,” she said.

Ragay Mayor Thaddeus Ramos in his acceptance speech, thanked the DA-PRDP NPCO and RPCO 5, and the National Meat Inspection Service Bicol for the speedy completion of the slaughterhouse. “Kaakibat nito ang responsibilidad. Pangalagaan natin ito at ibahagi natin sa iba upang tumagal,” he urged the stakeholders present.

DA Bicol Regional Executive Director Rodel P. Tornilla said that the construction of the facility started on December 10, 2021 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and it was completed on December 12, 2022. The public bidding at the LGU commenced on May 10, 2021 and Notice to Proceed was issued on December 7, 2021. The LGU of Ragay shared over P2,793,580.62 as equity to the total project cost of P27,935,806.16.

“This facility will definitely improve the quality of meat produced here and will greatly help in the prevention and control of African Swine Fever (ASF). It will also enable our hog raisers and meat vendors to deliver quality meat products to a wider market. More opportunities will be made available to livestock growers as the local meat that will be produced in the facility can now be marketed anywhere in the Philippines,” Director Tornilla added. The project is expected to increase farmers’ income by 5% and annual marketed output by 7%.

Also present during the inauguration and turn over were Engr. Arnel V. De Mesa, DA Assistant Secretary for Operations; PRDP South Luzon Project Director Milo delos Reyes; Shandy M. Hubilla, Deputy Director, Philippine Rural and Development Project (PRDP); Adelina A. Losa, PRDP Bicol Deputy Project Director; Dr. Domingo Gonzaga, NMIS Bicol Regional Technical Director; Dr. Alex Templonuevo, NMIS Senior Meat Control Officer; DA Bicol RTD for Research Edgar R. Madrid; Members of the Sanggunian Bayan of Ragay; livestock farmers and swine industry stakeholders.

The operations of the facility will be managed by the LGU of Ragay ang Municipal Agriculture Office led by Municipal Agriculturist Benedict Almario. The LGU of Ragay plans to procure reefer van to ensure that butchered meat remains safe and clean even during transport.

The slaughterhouse will benefit about 6,693 livestock/hog raisers, 1,774 RSABA-registered farmers, 132 registered meat shop owners and restaurant/eatery owners in Ragay.

The same AA slaughterhouses will be constructed by the DA – PRDP in five other municipalities, namely: Daraga, Albay; Buhi and Bula, Camarines Sur; Gubat and Barcelona in Sorsogon with total amount of P264.4 Million. Also included in the I-BUILD subproject is the improvement of the existing AA slaughterhouse in Tabaco City, Albay. (Lovella P. Guarin / with reports from Annielyn Baleza)

Photo credit: Eduardo Collantes, Jr. and Hermito Privaldos – RAFIS 5)