CEBU-BASED Virginia Farms Inc. is interested in investing for the upgrade and operation of the Iloilo City slaughterhouse into a Double AA classification under the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS). “I have had talks with the manager of Iloilo Terminal Market and NMIS. ‘Yung slaughterhouse natin, it cannot even serve outside of Iloilo City. We are willing to invest and we can improve it with our expertise,” Virginia Farms President Rolando Tambago said in a press conference last week for the launching of two branches of Pork Shop, the company’s retail arm. Mr. Tambago said the city abattoir’s existing system is “very traditional” and needs improvement, which he said could take a year to implement. He said they are looking at the possibility of renting the property under a long-term lease contract instead of a public-private partnership (PPP) arrangement. “Most probably PPP, but the more shortcut is the rental… we will invest and it will be managed by Virginia Farms,” he said. Iloilo Mayor Jerry P. Treñas recently announced that the city slaughterhouse is one of the projects being eyed under a PPP scheme. — Emme Rose S. Santiagudo

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR