December 7, 2020

Philippine government to build meat storage, cutting facilities

Four cold storage warehouses worth P280 million (~US$5.82 million; P1 = US$0.021) are set to be established in the three provinces of Pampanga, Batangas and Davao, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA), BusinessWorld reported.

Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar says the four cold storage facilities will include meat cutting facilities and are expected to expand the Philippines' ability to produce mechanically deboned meat.

The DA, through the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS), will build the facilities in Magalang, Pampanga; Tanauan and San Jose, Batangas; and Malagos, Davao del Sur.

Mr. Dar says the facilities will help in the recovery of the swine and poultry industries which were affected by the economic slowdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the African swine fever outbreak.

"NMIS will partner with hog farmers and poultry raisers, industry stakeholders, respective local government units, and the academe in Pampanga, Batangas, and Davao to put up, operate and maintain the cold storage and meat-cutting facilities," Mr. Dar adds.

NMIS Executive Director Reildrin G. Morales says negotiations with stakeholders are continuing.

"Once established, the facilities will provide services to meat processing industries, serve as an avenue for research and learning, and help enhance the conduct of the government's meat industry regulatory functions," Morales says.