Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson inaugurated the P55 million Municipal Abattoir in Brgy. Alegria, Murcia, on Thursday, Jan. 22, marking a significant upgrade to the town’s agricultural infrastructure.
The state-of-the-art slaughterhouse was designed to ensure the sanitary processing of livestock, safeguarding public health by meeting national food safety standards and improving the quality of meat products, the governor said.
The project was implemented through the Department of Agriculture’s Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP), with shared funding from the World Bank, the national government, and the provincial government of Negros Occidental.
The establishment of the facility followed a rigorous preparation process, where the municipality of Murcia underwent workshops and submitted feasibility studies that successfully passed both World Bank and PRDP technical reviews.
Lacson, in his speech, emphasized that the livestock sector remains a vital pillar of the rural economy, essential for generating employment and ensuring food security within local communities.
He described the modern slaughterhouse as a concrete indicator of progress, noting that by strengthening the value chain from farm to market, the facility directly benefits livestock raisers and meat vendors while creating broader economic opportunities in the countryside.
The governor also said the project serves as long-term support for small-scale producers, whom he identified as the backbone of the region’s rural economy.
Also at the inauguration were Board Member Andrew Montelibano, Murcia Mayor Gerry Rojas, Vice Mayor Johnny Reosura, DA-National Meat Inspection Service NIR Director Dr. Amria Ancilla Zartiga, Provincial Engineer Ernie Mapa and Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Placeda Lemana.*