Baguio slaughterhouse set for relocation in Pinsao

BAGUIO CITY  – The city government tasked the City Veterinary and Agriculture Office headed by Dr. Bridget Piok to head the team for the planned relocation of the existing slaughterhouse in barangay Sto. Niño to a city-owned property in Pinsao Proper to decongest said area which is within the property of the health department.

            Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong also directed the City Legal Office to take all the necessary legal steps to ensure the city government’s full ownership of the over 85,000-square meter Pinsao Proper property where a part will be the relocation site for the city’s already congested abattoir.

            Earlier, technical personnel of the concerned offices of the city government recommended a portion of the city-owned property in Pinsao Proper as the possible  relocation site for the existing slaughterhouse to ensure its possible expansion to cater to the increasing number of coral owners wanting to be part of the abattoir and for the same to have a wider space to utilize for the numerous activities being done in the said facility.

            The City Planning and Development Office previously identified the said area for city needs as it is open area and not part of any forest reservation, thus, feasible for the put up of facilities that will cater to the needs of the people of the city.

            However, the said city-owned property was allegedly issued a certificate of  ancestral land claim (CALC) by the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) which is now the subject of verification and validation for the city government to take the necessary legal to possess the property.

            The relocation of the slaughterhouse has been one of the major thrusts of the city government but the absence of a suitable land to accommodate the facility stalled the aforesaid plan that would free the existing site of the slaughterhouse and to significantly reduce the discharge of waste water from the facility to the Balili river.

            After the city government shall have worked out the cancellation of the CALC over the property that was declared for city needs, concerned offices will work on the titling of the land in the name of the city to prepare for its development, including the relocation of the slaughterhouse.

            The operation of the slaughterhouse is environmentally-critical as it discharges its waste water from the facility directly to the Balili river, one of the most polluted river systems in the Baguio and Benguet areas, thus, experts recommend the city government build the prescribed waste water treatment plant for the waste water from the facility and the city public market to help lessen the burden of the existing Baguio sewerage treatment plant in having to treat the additional burden of waste water.

            The city’s existing waste water plant in North Sanitary Camp was constructed with the assistance of the Japan International Cooperating Agency (JICA) over three decades ago. -- Dexter A. See