HOG, MEAT PRICE REGULATION IN TABUK: Comafay asks raisers, vendors to put actual expenses, computation on paper

TABUK CITY, Kalinga — Tabuk City hog raisers, meat vendors and other stakeholders have been urged to submit position papers detailing their actual expenses and recommended prices for liveweight hogs and pork to help the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) establish fair and workable prices for the local market.

Councilor Errol B. Comafay Jr., chairman of the SP Committee on Trade and Industry, made the appeal during the joint committee hearing of the Committee on Agriculture, chaired by Councilor TJ Duyan, and Trade and Industry on September 3.

The hearing focused on two proposed ordinances that seek to regulate different aspects of the hog and meat trade in Tabuk City, including the farmgate price of liveweight hogs and the prices of pork and other meat products.

Hog raisers, meat vendors, consumers, and representatives of concerned government offices and organizations attended the hearing to provide their views on the proposed measures.

Comafay, chairman of the Committee on Trade and Industry, and Councilor Juan Thomas Duyan,  led the discussions, together with Councilors Zorayda Wacnang, Eduardo Sacayle and Abraham Licaycay.

‘Put your actual costs on paper’

During the hearing, Comafay said the position papers would give lawmakers a clearer and more reliable basis for determining appropriate prices rather than relying solely on the council’s own computations.

He particularly asked hog growers and retailers to submit their respective recommendations and cost breakdowns to the SP committees.

“Agbayag tayo gamin nu tata tayo laeng agcommpute inya, ti idawdawat mi kadakayo agikuwa kayo ti position paper yo, dakayo nga grower, dakayo nga retailer, isubmittar yo ditoy Sanggunian, toy committee ni konsehal TJ tapno mairaman mi to diay dikusyon mi to ditoy konseho,” Comafay said.

A position paper is a written document presenting a sector’s position or recommendation on a proposed policy, supported by relevant information and figures.

In this case, the council wants the affected sectors to put on record their actual costs and proposed prices for liveweight hogs and pork.

The information is expected to help lawmakers determine how much it costs hog raisers to produce liveweight hogs and how much vendors spend in buying, processing and selling pork before deciding on appropriate prices.

The submissions would also allow the sectors to explain why they consider their proposed prices fair, sustainable and workable.

Two price-related ordinances

The call for position papers came as lawmakers reviewed the relationship between two proposed ordinances covering different portions of the hog and meat trade.

One measure, principally authored by Comafay, seeks to establish a minimum farmgate price for liveweight hogs produced and sold in Tabuk City. It also proposes provisions on fair weighing and payment, market monitoring, producer support and penalties for violations.

The second measure, principally authored by Duyan, with Councilors Ivann Yannick Bagayao, Marc Rainier Dugiang, Eduardo Sacayle and Zorayda Wacnang as co-authors, seeks to regulate the prices of livestock, poultry, meat and meat products sold within the city and impose penalties for violations.

Because the proposed measures cover related aspects of pricing, lawmakers said inputs from those directly involved in the industry are important in refining the provisions.

‘Justifiable, reasonable, affordable’

City Veterinarian Dr. Carmen Wanas also emphasized the need to consider the interests of the different sectors affected by the proposed regulations.

Wanas urged lawmakers to ensure that any price measures would be justifiable, reasonable and affordable while considering the realities faced by hog raisers, vendors and consumers.

“Ti dawat ko lang ken wish ko lang, agsabat kayon iti maymaysa nga justifiable, reasonable, affordable. Para kanyak gamin, im speaking as hog raiser, meat vendor, and kas consumer,” Wanas said.

The position papers are expected to provide the council with actual cost figures, proposed prices and the reasoning behind the recommendations of hog raisers and meat vendors.

These inputs will serve as reference as the Sangguniang Panlungsod continues deliberations and refines the proposed ordinances governing liveweight hog and pork prices in Tabuk City.