BAGUIO CITY – The city government and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) formally launched and turned over the P3.7 million Shared Service Facility for Meat Processing at Slaughter House Compound on Tuesday.
The medium, small, and micro enterprises (MSMEs) sector stands to benefit from this facility.
Atty. Samuel Gallardo, DTI Baguio-Benguet provincial director, said the facility hopes to improve the quality of the city’s meat products, make Baguio a known source of quality meat products, and help local MSMEs engaged in meat processing.
Gallardo said the DTI has already provided around P20 million in funds for the establishment of similar projects during the past 10 years to help the city’s entrepreneurs.
The project will be managed by Baguio City Farmers Cooperative (BCFC) headed by Dr. Bridgit Piok, former City Veterinary and Agriculture Office (CVAO). The project was entirely funded by the DTI.
Piok accepted the challenge and said the BCFC as a beneficiary will do its very best to make the project a success as she asked for the continued support of the DTI and the city government in terms of needed training and more.
Juliet Lucas, DTI regional director, said the big-scale project requires daily supply of meat and encouraged the beneficiaries to do their best so that the facility will not become a ‘white elephant’.
“The product is very marketable because most people in the city and the region love eating meat,” Lucas pointed out.
CVAO head Dr. Silardo Bested assured his office’s support to the BCFC and also thanked the DTI and Mayor Benjamin Magalong who requested for the facility about two years ago from then DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez.