Lorega abattoir''s conversion to puericulture center eyed

The old Cebu City abattoir in barangay Lorega-San Miguel will undergo renovation after the May 14 elections in preparation for its conversion into a center for prenatal care and for women scheduled to give birth.

City administrator Francisco "Bimbo" Fernandez said the renovation and the conversion of the old slaughterhouse into a puericulture center is one of the city''s projects lined up under the Local Development Plan for 2007.

Fernandez said the center for "infanticipating women" will serve not only residents of Lorega-San Miguel, but also those from neighboring areas because the city is planning to create "birthing centers" for clustered barangays.

"Ang atong programa mao nga anha na lang sa mga barangay atimanon kadtong magpa-prenatal ug kadtong manganak. Dugangan nato ang mga midwives o kaha ipa-undergo nato''g training ang mga barangay health workers," Fernandez added.

Mayor Tomas Osmeña is planning to abolish the Obstetrics Ward of the Cebu City Medical Center. He said that those who will need pregnancy-related services will be referred to their respective barangay health centers.

The abolition of the CCMC-OB ward is directed towards the improvement of other services of said hospital. But Fernandez pointed out that CCMC may still attend to pregnancy-related illnesses. Attention will only be given to those cases considered special or unusual.

Osmeña ordered the closure of the old slaughterhouse in 2005 after Lorega-San Miguel barangay officials failed to curb the proliferation of illegal drugs and gambling activities there.

The other reason for the closure was the poor revenue collection of the slaughterhouse.

"For poor collection of slaughter fees, the city ended up subsidizing its operations," Osmeña said.

After the closure of the abattoir, barangay officials of Lorega-San Miguel asked Osmeña to have the building converted into a sports complex, but the mayor turned down the request. - Rene U. Borromeo/MEEV