New Angeles City slaughterhouse aims to be 'humane'

ANGELES CITY--The soon to rise state-ofthe-art Angeles City Slaughterhouse (ACS) promises "no more animal torture and abuse."

As a known champion for animal welfare, having provided premium programs for the city’s feline and canine friends, Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin Jr., aims to eradicate the inhumane notion of slaughterhouses.

We have always advocated for animal welfare ever since. Dito sa Angeles City, hindi lang kapakanan ng mga residente ang pinangangalagaan natin, kundi pati na rin ang mga hayop dito. With this new slaughterhouse, we want to promote a more humane treatment and handling of live stocks and poultry,” Lazatin sai d.

Lazatin’s Chief Adviser and Tactician

Director IC Calaguas meanwhile said that the construction of the new slaughterhouse will transpire through a Build-OperateTransfer (BOT) partnership with Angeles Dynamic Agroventures Inc.

Calaguas explained that under the agreement, the city government will lease their land for 25 years to the private partner, with the latter paying monthly rent until the end of the contract.

In return, Angeles Dynamic Agroventures Inc., will shoulder the construction, including the financing, operation and maintenance of the slaughterhouse structure, amounting to P80 million.

After 25 years, the finished state-of-theart slaughterhouse will be turned over to the city government.

ACS General Manager Lito Corpuz said the new city slaughterhouse will be upgraded from Single A to Double A category, which means it will be accredited by the National Meat Services Inspection (NMSI). More so, the processed meat from the slaughterhouse can be distributed outside Angeles City.

"Sa dating slaughterhouse, hogs, cattle, and carabaos lang ang napo-process natin. Ngayon, sa newly renovated slaughterhouse, magkakaroon na rin tayo ng automated Poultry Dressing Plant para sa mga manok,” Corpuz sai d.

In terms of treating the animals humanely, Corpuz explained that the new facility will employ humane strategy, where animals will be stunned first before they are processed.

Once finished, the ACS will be able to process 4,000 to 5,000 chicken per hour; 700 to 1,000 hogs per 12-hour operation; and 100 to 200 cattle and carabaos per 12-hour oper at i o n .

Aside from the newly installed poultry dressing plant, the new slaughterhouse will also have a wastewater treatment facility, and its own ice plant.

Corpuz said the new slaughterhouse will also be friendlier to the environment.

“Dahil meron tayong wastewater treatment facility, pwede nating i-treat at linisin yung tubig na ginagamit sa slaughterhouse, bago natin ito pakawalan sa ilog,” he said.

The city government remains vigilant in monitoring meat shops and slaughterhouses. It can be recalled that last November 2019, Mayor Lazatin immediately ordered the closure of a reported illegal slaughterhouse in Barangay Lourdes Northwest.

Lazatin also urges the public to beware of “double-dead meat,” and to check the quality of fresh produce they buy in the market.