New rules, fees set for Baguio slaughterhouse

BAGUIO CITY -- City officials recently amended Section 10 of Tax Ordinance No. 2012-01 that prescribes the rules and regulations governing the operation of the slaughterhouse, livestock and meat inspection service in the city and amended Section 34 a-g and Section 35 of Tax Ordinance No. 2000-001.
    Under Ordinance No. 85, series of 2023 which will take effect on November 17, 2023, there will be levied fees and charges on the operation of the slaughterhouse, livestock and  meat inspection service such as slaughter, coral and inspection fee for cattle/carabao – P10 per head; hog – P5 per head and goat/sheep – P5 per head; ante-mortem inspection fee  for cattle/carabao – P3 per head; hog – P2 per head and goat/sheep – P2 per head; post-mortem inspection fee for cattle/carabao – P3 per head; hog – P2 per head and goat/sheep – P2 per head; arrival fee for cattle/carabao – P3 per head; hog – P2 per head and goat/sheep – P2 per head; coral fee for cattle/carabao – P6 per head; hog – P4 per head and goat/sheep – P4 per head; slaughter fee for cattle/carabao – P175 per head; hog – P85 per head and goat/sheep – P85 per head; meat handlers license fee -P100 per license; meat conveyance accreditation fee – P500 per vehicle; goat corral fee – P500 per square meter per month; and hog coral fee – P250 per square meter per month.

    The ordinance stated goat and hog coral fee livestock market shall be paid on a monthly basis and shall be paid on or before the last working day of the month.          
    Further, permit fee, ante-mortem inspection fee, post-mortem inspection fee, arrival fee, coral fee and slaughter fee shall be paid first before carcass are brought out of the slaughterhouse.
    The council stated that there is a need to itemize or unbundle the current fees and charges being collected from the operation of the slaughterhouse in order to separate the specific amount for ante-mortem and post-mortem inspection fees.
Earlier, the local government received a letter from the Cordillera office of the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS-CAR) dated May 11, 2023 reminding the passage of an amendatory ordinance separating the ante and most-mortem inspection fees pursuant to existing laws, rules and regulations.
    Pursuant to page 3 of Tax ordinance No. 2012-01, the city government is collecting P100 and P200 slaughter/coral and inspection fees for cattle/carabao and swine, respectively.
    The ordinance will take effect within the prescribed period following its publication in a local paper of general circulation pursuant to the pertinent provisions of the Local Government Code of the Philippines. -- Dexter A. See