BAGUIO CITY – The city council approved on first reading a proposed ordinance regulating the importation of dehydrated vegetables in the city for the benefit of protecting the health condition of people from such types of products.
The ordinance by Councilor Edgar M. Avila pointed out that dehydrated vegetables shall refer to any form of vegetables dehydrated through various means.
Under the proposed ordinance, the importation of dehydrated vegetables shall be subject to an appropriate local tax to be determined by the city council and importers, wholesalers and retailers of dehydrated vegetables must secure the clearances and permits from the permits and licensing division of the city before operations.
Further, the city government, through the concerned offices and agencies, shall provide financial assistance as subsidies and loans to qualified applicants, manufacturers engaged in vegetable dehydration.
Avila stated the amount necessary to implement the intents and purposes of the ordinance shall be chargeable to the funds as appropriated in the annual budget of the city.
According to him, importation of dehydrated vegetables shall be tantamount to cut throat competition and shall be punished with a fine of P10,000 and or one-year imprisonment or both upon the discretion of the court.
If the employer is a corporation, its officers and members of the Board shall be held criminally liable. Employers who are public quasi or government corporations shall likewise incur administrative liabilities.
Further, business licenses and permits issued by the city government shall likewise be cancelled by the concerned offices of the city government.
The ordinance mandated the business and licensing division and other city government departments, bureaus, agencies to provide for mechanisms, policies, rules and regulations to implement the intentions of the local legislative measure.
On matters not covered by the ordinance, the proponent stated that existing laws in so far as they are not in conflict with the existing provisions, shall apply in matters not otherwise specifically provided for in the measure.
If any provision or section of the ordinance, or the application of the said provision to any person or circumstance, is held invalid, he explained the other provisions or sections of the ordinance and the application of such circumstance shall not be affected.
The proposed ordinance was referred to the committee on laws for evaluation, study and recommendation before the second reading.
Avila expressed optimism that the council will pass the proposed local legislative measure the soonest for the strict regulation of businesses engaged in the importation of dehydrated vegetables by the local government to prevent the clandestine operation of such individuals and groups engaged in such kind of business./By Dexter A. See
