Benguet ammends quarantine law

MEMBERS of the Benguet Provincial Board on Monday approved on third and final reading the revised animal quarantine regulations.

Provincial Board Member Robert Namoro said majority of the fees for the animal products to be shipped in and out of the province have gone down but it will depend on the volume of livestock and meat products entering the province.

“All regulatory fees have been lowered. Some were retained,” Namoro stated.

Aside from the regulatory fees, the revised law include specifications of prohibited acts with corresponding penalties.

To recall, businessmen in Baguio and Benguet have previously asked for the amendment of the policies of the law including the reduction of its regulatory fees.

Baguio businessmen have also expressed its plea, claiming the imposition of fees illegal as contained in the Department of the Interior and Local Government memorandum.

Namoro remain firm on his stand on the quarantine law which seek to promote public health and safety and protect the local animal and farming industries.

The Benguet official added they will have to wait for the action of the DILG in response to the plea of the traders.

“We will wait for the action of the DILG without prejudice. We will continue on our part until the proper court will state we

cannot,” he added.

Namoro added the law is awaiting the approval of the governor.

Under the province quarantine law, animal checkpoints were deployed in the different entry and exit points of the province.

The quarantine inspectors are tasked to conduct inspection of shipment within the designated checkpoints, check appropriate documents to warrant the entry of inspected shipments and report to the authorities the unsafe shipments for confiscation.