Capitol sheep much cheaper than Subic, Gen San prices

THE Capitol defended anew its purchase of Damara and Dorper sheep from Australia, saying that the Provincial Government acquired the breeder stocks at a much lower price than in other places in the country.

In a press statement, Capitol stated that the purchase price of the sheep and even the selling price it offered to local buyers, who included respected businessmen, planters and big farm owners, are way down low, based on its comparative data.

Capitol added that based on the documents sent by the Subic-based Zoomanity to the Provincial Veterinary Office, it showed that the company, which trades hybrid imported and local livestock animals, sells “kiddings” or one to four-month old Damaras at P20,000 apiece, and P35,000 per head for the Dorper.

Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Renante Decena, in referring to the supplier’s price quotations, said Zoomanity’s selling rate for an adult Damara ewe or ram stays at more than P40,000 while the Dorper ewe or ram is P50,000 or more.

The price of a Dorper ram imported by General Santos City from the Australian Rural Exports Pty. Ltd., on the other hand, is pegged at $1,100 each, including the cost of freight, a comparative document showed.

This is four times over our acquisition cost for the Dorper ram at AU$270 each. Even the price of our Dorper/Damara ewe at P16,000 is two to three times lower compared to prices of a Zambales-based supplier which sells between P40,000 to P50,000 per head, Decena said.

“These are prevailing market prices. Real, not imaginary,” said Jose Ma. Valencia, chief of staff of the Office of the Governor.

Valencia added that the GenSan and Subic prices are more than double, if not triple or more, compared to the P16,000 offered by the Provincial Government for the Damara/Dorper ewe and P25,000 for the Damara/Dorper ram pegged under SP Ordinance No. 003, which Vice Governor Genaro Alvarez and the Board Members unanimously approved on February 22, 2012.

Marañon, in a press conference Thursday, underscored there was no overpricing in the acquisition of the breeder stocks, which were procured by Capitol after majority of the Provincial Board members, headed by Vice Governor Genaro Alvarez, approved SP Resolution No. 1003 last November 9, 2011, which amended Resolution Nos. 0816, 0817 and 0821.

Certified correct and signed by Alvarez himself, SP Resolution No. 1003 approved the stipulations of Pro-Forma Invoice No. 0001-2011 (of the International Livestock Export Pty. Ltd.) and authorized Marañon and the Provincial Treasurer as signatories to the contract in behalf of the province, the statement added.

The Vice Governor also affixed his signature on every page of the Pro-Forma Invoice, as well as on the resolution that contained the details of the contract that changed the Capitol order from 1,110 heads of cattle and 2,400 heads of sheep to about 6,000 Damara/Dorper sheep, it further stated.

SP Ordinance No. 003, entitled, “An Ordinance Establishing the Negros First Ranch, Providing for Rates in the Dispersal of Livestock and For Other Purposes (The Negros First Ranch of Negros Occidental)”, outlined the need to pursue a food security program, and the establishment as well of the Provincial Livestock Committee with the governor and vice governor as chairman and vice chairman, respectively.

It pegged the prices for the sheep breeders in Section 5 at P16,000 for the ewe and P25,000 for the ram until March 2012 based on recovery cost, inclusive of handling fees and such other applicable and pertinent fees and charges.

Beginning April 2012, however, the ordinance continued, an additional amount of P600 per month shall be incorporated in the price of each imported sheep to cover for the cost of feeds and other utilities.

“That is why it is preposterous for some quarters to manufacture unverified figures left and right. It is clear that this all boils down to politics as the one making a mountain out of a molehill is an ally and relative of the vice governor. I don’t think they will dispute that because it is fact. If this not politics, so what is their motive? It’s meant to simply confuse and dis-inform the public,” Valencia said.

“SP Ordinance No. 003 speaks for itself. If they continue to resort to media hopping and forum shopping with all those malicious imputations against the good governor, then their bottomline is crystal clear: sheer propaganda,” continued Valencia, as he reiterated Marañon’s call to bring the political campaign to a mature level via public debates where they can bring to the fore their platform of government.

Meanwhile, Board Member Manuel Frederick Ko said on Friday that he will look into the possibility how the SP can conduct an inquiry into the sheep issue.

He said that they may raise the matter with Decena who will be invited in the ongoing budget hearing by the committee on finance. (TDE)