New airport fees up for ‘outgoing’ fighting cocks, flora, fauna
“Terminal fees” in the new Iloilo Airport for chickens, dogs, cats and wild Orchids? Strange the case it may seem but very true.
This, as local airport fees will see latest addition with the imposition of payment for “outgoing” fauna, flora, pets and chickens – fighting cocks specifically.
Subject of a Municipal Ordinance from the Municipality of Cabatuan, Iloilo, fees have now been set and ready to be impose. In fact, owners of departing fighting cocks and hybrid pets will now have to pay more than the regular human passenger.
“Fauna” here refers to animal life in general while “pets” were categorized as those kept at home and “for companionship, interest or amusement.”
Flora on the other hand are all plant life while a specific category was stated on “chickens” classified as fighting cocks or rosters and ordinary chickens “not classified as pets.”
The Ordinance numbered 2008-007 stated that fauna such as fish and other aquatic products have corresponding fee of P50 per 100 kilos or a fraction thereof. Rare species of flora on the other hand will be charged P100 per piece while those on the “ordinary” category will only have a P30 per piece fee.
Pets such as hybrid kinds will be charged P300 per head while “ordinary” ones would be P100 per head. It was not immediately clear what constitutes the “ordinary” pets though.
The “chicken category” meantime will see a P300 per head or per fighting cock and P50 per head for “ordinary” chickens.
Fees imposed will have to be paid prior to check-in and non-payment will be ground for its prevention to be shipped out.
The passage of this Ordinance met a lengthy delay following the earlier objection of Mayor Ramon Yee citing that the fees were excessive. Yet ensuing legislative push got the Ordinance to take off.