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Operations and Waste Management of

Slaughterhouses in the Province of Laguna

Data in Journal of Environmental Science and Management · January 2009

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Michelle Grace V. Paraso Cesar Sevilla

University of the Philippines Los Baños University of the Philippines Los Baños
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 Journal of Environmental Science and Management 11(1): 32-41 (December 2008 )
32 ISSN 0119-1144

Operations and Waste Management of Slaughterhouses in the Province

of Laguna
Rojie Faith R. Maranan, Michelle Grace V. Paraso, Antonio J. Alcantara,
Ma. Victoria O. Espaldon, Sofia A. Alaira, Cesar C. Sevilla and Conrado A. Valdez
ABSTRACT

This study was done to provide an overview of environmental and public health concerns in
relation to the operations and waste management practices of slaughterhouses in the Laguna
Province. An interview with slaughterhouse masters, meat inspectors or pollution officers in
each slaughterhouse was accomplished using a standard survey form. Results revealed that only
four (36.4%) of the eleven slaughterhouses in the province were accredited with the National
Meat Inspection Service (NMIS), which implies that that the majority of the slaughterhouses in
Laguna do not comply with the set standards for abattoir operations. Moreover, the non-
accredited establishments operate with substandard and outdated facilities and equipment.
Wastewater treatment was absent in four (4) slaughterhouses. Notwithstanding the presence of
wastewater lagoons in some establishments, further treatment of the effluent was found to be
lacking. Solid wastes were not utilized into useful by-products. The generated waste water does
not undergo treatment and purification prior to its disposal into the environment. The study
shows the need for compliance with the set standards for operation by the National Meat
Inspection Service (NMIS) as well as strict implementation of the waste management programs
in these establishments in order to provide wholesome and safe products for consumers in an
environmentally acceptable manner.

Key words: slaughterhouse, waste management, effluent, slaughterhouse operations

INTRODUCTION

Slaughterhouses are the primary establishments
that prepare animals for food consumption. Its
facilities should enable the slaughtering, dressing,
cutting and inspecting of meats, and refrigeration,
curing and manufacturing of by-products.
Traditionally, slaughterhouses are managed by
local government units (LGUs), however, because
of limited financial capability, the law allows
LGUs to sell, lease or franchise the operation of
slaughterhouses to private entities (FAO 2008).
Government regulations must be followed in all
operations done in abattoirs including the
construction of the building itself along with the
drainage, water supply and waste disposal systems
(EPA 2001). In the Philippines, the accreditation
of slaughterhouses is handled by the National
Meat Inspection Service (NMIS), an agency under
the Department of Agriculture that implements
guidelines and policies on the proper handling,
inspection, processing, storage and preservation
of meat and meat by-products. The provisions of
the Code on Sanitation of the Philippines (P.D. 856)
(DOH 1998) are among those adopted into the
regular accreditation process of NMIS. Accredited
establishments are classified as “AAA” or abattoirs
that are qualified to export their produced meat;
“AA” establishments are those qualified for
domestic trade whereas a classification of “A”
means that the establishment can only trade their
product within the municipality or city.
Unfortunately, the majority of slaughterhouses in
the country (86.8%) have not met the minimum
standard of accreditation (Class A) by the NMIS.
Of the accredited slaughterhouses, only 13% met
the highest sanitation standards (Class AAA)
while most (58%) met the standards for normal
domestic trade (Class AA) (Costales and
Delgado 2002). It was likewise revealed that
about 30-40% of the total number of food animals
slaughtered in the country is slaughtered in
unregistered establishments based on data from
the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS) (FAO
2008). At present, Laguna is among the
provinces with the highest concentration of

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