The Dumaguete City Slaughterhouse has been downgraded into a Double A facility, from its AAA level 15 years ago, city economic enterprise officer, Jose Ronnie Fortin, said.

He said the design of the abattoir was for a Double A set up, because of the lack of plans to export meat products. He added that since 2006, its accreditation has not been renewed due to stringent requirements now that were not imposed 15 years ago.

These include certificates of Good Manufacturing Practices and the Hazard Analytical Critical Control Point that, he said, are harder to comply with these days since external auditors are based in Manila.

Fortin assured that the slaughterhouse is still the best in the region, and many local government units do not even have one. The facility is also charging one of the lowest fees for slaughtering.

Ronaldo Teves, who supervises the operation of the establishment, said the slaughterhouse has been operating on a break-even scheme in the past years because of its high maintenance cost and the increases in the salaries of employees.

He said that since the abattoir was established, the rate per kilo of carcass remains at 25 centavos, and five centavos for live weight. This is very low, if not the lowest in the country, based on verifications made with slaughterhouses in Bacolod, Cebu, Mandaue City and other LGUs, Teves said.

He said the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Dumaguete can amend the rates.

The slaughterhouse has an average production of 11 tons of meat daily, and about 150 hogs, 20 cows and 15 goats are slaughtered there every day.*JG

back to top