Major investment projects await Philippine meat sector

Philippine Agriculture secretary Bernie Fondevilla has assured both hog and poultry industries that big-ticket projects like a modern slaughterhouse and an egg processing centre will soon be implemented to benefit them.

Among these is the construction of a Triple A slaughterhouse in Marulas, Valenzuela City and the establishment of an egg processing plant. The slaughterhouse will be built at the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) compound in Marulas, and will have a capacity of 50 heads per hour.

In addition, a 900-square-metre egg processing centre will be established in San Jose, Batangas and will be operated by the private sector.

The total livestock and poultry industry sub-sector has consistently contributed between 26% and 28% to the whole agriculture output on an annual basis.

Production grew by 1.49% in 2009 compared to 2008, which is no mean feat given the bureau's tasks in keeping the Philippines free of the dreaded bird flu virus, foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and other threats to the animal industry.

Meanwhile, the BAI also maintained that Mindanao, the Visayas, Palawan and Masbate have been free of FMD since 2002 while Luzon has recorded zero incidence of FMD for the last 51 months.

The BAI added that this will add to the country's attractiveness as a reliable source of high-quality livestock products, notably for the global Halal market that the DA is trying to develop.