Wednesday, April 02, 2008 Bacolod to push transfer of slaughterhouse By Karl G. Ombion
BACOLOD Mayor Evelio Leonardia said the city is bent on completing the transfer and development of the slaughterhouse the soonest time to upgrade the efficiency of its services and raise more revenues.
This as Leonardia refuted claims of slaughterhouse workers and their kin that there was no consultation prior to the signing of the contract with private firm Bernardo Corp., which will undertake the development, management, and operations of the new slaughterhouse in Barangay Handumanan.
"The process started as early as 2002 and the construction of the new slaughterhouse was completed before my term. I only set the stage to speed the transfer and development of the facility," he stressed.
"Aside from keeping the regular and casual workers in the new slaughterhouse facility, we have an understanding with Bernardo Corp. that they will open the hiring to those who are already involved, either as contractual or odd job workers, in the old slaughterhouse in Barangay 35," the mayor said.
Leonardia also denied that the city's privatization plan would result to the dislocation of thousands of people dependent on the slaughterhouse for their living.
"The city, through its cooperative services, has already started community needs and skills assessments which will serve as basis in identifying whom to be given employment in different job arrangements," he said.
He added that as soon as this is done, "we will also be coordinating with the Technical Educational Skills and Development Authority (Tesda), which promised to assist in skills training for people who will be employed in the slaughterhouse and as well as in other jobs."
Leonardia said he was briefed that the development of the new slaughterhouse is almost done except for the three-phased electrical line and would soon be ready for a test run.
The Asosasyon ng mga Trabahadores sa Slaughterhouse recently staged a series of actions demanding the scrapping of the privatization contract and the retention of the old slaughterhouse.
They insisted that the city had not consulted them on the plan and that the privatization would dislocate thousands of people who are dependent on the facility for their living.
Also, they vowed to frustrate the city's plan should it pushes through with the transfer.
