Batac city: The Regional Project Advisory Board 1 (Ilocos) has approved a modern slaughterhouse project in Batac City, Ilocos Norte, under the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) Scale-Up, paving the way for its construction. Worth approximately PHP166.6 million, the construction of the Double A slaughterhouse in Barangay Colo will ensure a safer and high-quality meat processing facility in the city, according to Batac City Mayor Mark Christian Chua.

According to Philippines News Agency, Mayor Chua emphasized the importance of the project in ensuring food safety and supporting local producers. He expressed his gratitude to the PRDP for their involvement and support. The PRDP, a World Bank-funded program originally implemented in 2014, aims to increase rural incomes and enhance farm and fishery productivity in targeted areas. The PRDP Scale-Up is the continuation of the original program, designed to respond to the need for investment beyond what was in the original PRDP.

Government data show Ilocos Norte as having a strong livestock and poultry industry, with more than 2.25 million livestock heads recorded in the first quarter of this year. However, the region remains reliant on outdated slaughtering facilities. The new slaughterhouse is expected to address this issue, benefiting more than 8,000 livestock raisers in Batac City, as noted by the City Agriculture Office.

The upcoming slaughterhouse is anticipated to complement the Batac public market and the soon-to-be-completed PHP30 million agricultural trading center, further bolstering the local economy and infrastructure.