Council proposes fee increase for meat services

FEES for various services related to livestock slaughter and meat transportation and processing will be increased under proposed amendments filed in the Cebu City Council.

Councilman Noel Wenceslao, lead author of the amendment ordinance, submitted the amendments for first reading on October 23, 2024, which include revisions to Chapter 120, Sections 90, 92, and 95, and the addition of Sections 94-A, 94-B. and 94-C of the Revised Omnibus Tax Ordinance of the City of Cebu.

In a telephone interview on Thursday, October 31, Wenceslao told SunStar Cebu that these sections have remained unchanged for more than 30 years since 1993.

He said the current fees and charges, which fall within the remit of the Department of Veterinary and Fisheries (DVMF), are no longer in line with current market standards.

“Ubos kaayo ang atung presyo, unya mahal na ba ron (Our prices are very low, but the costs have increased significantly). Therefore, we need to adjust the fees we charge,” Wenceslao said.

“It’s not just the DVMF (which sets the rates), there are other departments that charge fees,” he added.

Wenceslao explained that the proposed changes are still in their infancy, as the committee must hold a public hearing before issuing its reports. Next is the second reading before the third and final reading.

He said that increasing fees is an opportunity to generate additional revenue for the Municipality.

In a separate message on Thursday, DVMF chief Alice Utlang told SunStar Cebu that it is high time to make adjustments to the service rates offered by the agency.

Rate adjustments

According to the proposed changes, fees such as cutting fee, transportation fee, corral fee and regulatory service fee will be charged from the services.

Other fees include antemortem and postmortem examination fee, meat business registration fee and other fees (certificate, animal health, license fee, veterinary services, veterinary health certificate and fish examination).

Under the slaughter fee section, the City charges a fee for each animal slaughtered for human consumption: P200 for cattle, carabaos, or horses; P150 for pigs; P50 for goats or sheep; and P10 for domestic poultry.

The city will also charge transportation fees for transporting processed animal carcasses and rudimentary parts using state-owned meat wagons. These fees are set at P50 per person for cattle, carabaos or horses; P40 for pigs; P30 for goats or sheep; and P10 per case for domestic fowl.

Additionally, a corral fee of P30 per person for cattle, carabaos or horses will be charged for each animal kept in a city-owned pen before slaughter; P20 for pigs; and P10 for goats or sheep.

A regulatory service fee will apply to the inspection of animal carcasses and meat sold for human consumption in public markets. These fees include P40 per person for pork, P60 for beef, P20 for chevron or mutton, P1 per person for marinated chicken and rabbit meat, P50 for horse meat, P1 per kilo of imported meat and eggs. Includes P0.50 per tray.

Registration and licensing fees will also be charged: P300 for meat processors, cutters, butchers, and vendors; P350 for meat stall owners; and P450 for meat shop operators, processors, and meat sellers or suppliers.

For lechon vendors or pork retailers, the fees include P600 for pork, P650 for beef, and P550 for chicken, domestic chicken, rabbit and pork. Meat transportation vehicles are also subject to a fee of P500 for tricycles, P600 for multicabs, and P700 for trucks.

Necropsy fees for veterinary services are set as follows: P400 for bovine animals (such as horses, cattle, and carabaos), P300 for small ruminants (such as sheep and goats) and pigs, P250 for pets, P200 for birds, and P300 for birds. Rabies surveillance head samples, including head sample preparation.

The fee to obtain a Veterinary Health Certificate is P100 for local certificates and P300 for international certificates. Under fish inspection, registration fees are set at P300 for wholesalers, P200 for retailers, P300 for traveling vendors, and P100 for fish workers or helpers.

Inspection fees for fishing products are charged at P0.35 per kilogram, P10 per box or foam container, P30 for a medium box, and P120 for a jumbo box. / EHP