Thursday, December 04, 2008 New food processing zone to bring in more jobs: councilor By Merlinda A. Pedrosa
THE Bacolod City Council expects more jobs to be given to nearby residents of Barangay 35 with the conversion of the old abattoir into a food-processing zone.
Councilor Alex Paglumotan, chairman of the council committee on market, said the new food-processing zone would generate more income with more employees to be hired.
He said they are contemplating on rehiring hundreds of displaced personnel from the old abattoir once the food processing would start operation.
Paglumotan added the city needs at least P2 million for the conversion of the dilapidated slaughterhouse.
"We might seek the help of other local agencies like the Department of Agriculture (DA) in order to push through with this plan," said Paglumotan, adding that the conversion will start in the first quarter of 2009 once the budget is released.
Meanwhile, the City Council also plans to convert the City Health compound into a mini lying-in clinic once the City Hall offices transfer to the New Government Center (NGC) on December 16.
Acting City Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson said the City Health Office would remain in the old office while the rest of the departments will be transferred.
Sayson said that based on studies conducted by the regional hospital, majority of their patients are coming from the Bacolod City.
"On this aspect, the regional hospital was asking the help of the city to lessen the volume of patients, the would-be mothers," he said.
Sayson added it is about time that the city also builds its own lying-in clinic and mini-maternity hospital.
