DESPITE opposition from the business sector, members of the Benguet Provincial Board are standing firm on the quarantine law.
This, after Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Benguet Provincial Director Rufina Fegcan sought clarification on the quarantine ordinance.
She said the agency received a letter from Rommel Acid, general manager of Granville, regarding a complaint on Benguet’s Ordinance no. 17-216 on the imposition and collection of fees on poultry and other related meat products as they pass through checkpoints in the province.
Acid, in a letter dated October 9, said that for almost six months, the provincial government has disregarded the memorandum circular of DILG, most recently Circular No. 2013-133, to the detriment of traders and small businessmen.
"To us legitimate small traders, we pray that the collection of these fees be immediately stopped with following concerns and issues will further clarify our position," the letter states.
Acid added the National Meat Inspection Services conduct a thorough inspection of their equipment and facilities before their products are shipped out.
He noted that the quarantine checkpoints in designated roads in the province of Benguet are not real quarantine inspection facilities but mere makeshift offices which collect fees.
"These checkpoints do not have the appropriate quarantine equipment and facilities as well as expertise to conduct routine technical quarantine inspection work," added Acid.
In June, the Provincial Board approved the revised animal quarantine regulations but businessmen from Baguio expressed their opposition stating the imposed fees illegal as contained in the DILG memo.
Under the provincial quarantine law, animal checkpoints were set up in the different entry and exit points in Benguet.
The quarantine ordinance seeks to promote public health and safety.
Inspectors from the Provincial Veterinary Office are tasked to inspect shipments within the designated checkpoints, check appropriate documents to warrant the entry of inspected shipments and report to the proper authorities for the confiscation of the unsafe shipments.