18 October 2011

2 minute read

Asia

The National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) plans to build four to five AAA public slaughterhouses and poultry dressing plants to help boost the competitiveness of the Philippines' meat industry, according to Visayan Daily Star.

At the agency's 39th anniversary programme and 2011 Meat Safety Consciousness Week celebration in Metro Manila yesterday, NMIS Executive Director, Jane Bacayo, said: "We have an approved 180 million pesos [PHP] in our 2012 budget for such purpose."

He said the planned slaughterhouses and dressing plants will function as service facilities where livestock and poultry producers can bring respective animal produce for proper slaughtering under sanitary conditions.

He added: "Lack of such service facilities in the country creates a gap at present because producers can't fully meet processors' needs."

Mr Bacayo and Agriculture Secretary, Proceso Alcala, said the producers and processors are scheduled to meet in two weeks to discuss the matter and to identify locations for the planned slaughterhouses and dressing plants.

Mr Alcala stressed: "Government is here to help address gaps in production up to marketing."

He earlier decided tapping the Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund to further help local meat stakeholders compete squarely with foreign counterparts. Malacañang also previously expressed interest in supporting such goal, he continued.

The planned service slaughterhouses and dressing plants will be government-owned, Mr Bacayo said, reports Visayan Daily Star.

"We'll tap the private sector to run operations in those facilities, however," he clarified.

TheCattleSite News Desk