BACOLOD CITY – The Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) of the Department of Agriculture (DA) will help fund the construction of abattoirs in six local government units (LGUs) in Negros Occidental, the country’s top backyard swine producer.
As of Monday, the identified recipients are the municipalities of Hinobaan, Cauayan, Murcia, Toboso, Binalbagan, and San Carlos City.
Jose Albert Barrogo, DA-Western Visayas Regional Technical Director for Operations, said the six localities are part of the 16 target project recipients in Region 6.
“This is in the Provincial Commodity Investment Plan of the province that will be funded by our agency,” he said over the Provincial Capitol’s “Radyo (Radio) Negrense” program.
The PRDP, jointly funded by the World Bank, national government, and participating LGUs, seeks to establish a modern, value chain-oriented, and climate-resilient agriculture and fisheries sector.
Barrogo, the designated deputy project director of the PRDP Support Office Visayas, said the establishment of the Hinobaan Municipal Abattoir has been approved and is scheduled for bidding.
With a cost of PHP49.68 million, the project will be implemented under the PRDP’s Infrastructure Development Component.
The DA-6 official said they have already issued a “no objection” letter to Cauayan, which means the project bidding can also be scheduled.
He added that they are waiting for Murcia, Toboso, and San Carlos to submit the project documents while Binalbagan is seeking extension for the submission of its papers.
“Before each project can be approved, it has to through a process and documents such as feasibility study should be submitted. Each abattoir has its own objectives, how to be managed by the LGU, and how it can earn an income. It should be sustainable,” Barrogo said.
Under the PRDP, 80 percent of the project cost is funded by World Bank, 10 percent by the DA, and 10 percent by the province. (PNA)
