Bureau of Local Government Finance Opinion

December 27, 2002 BUREAU OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT FINANCE OPINION The Municipal Treasurer Pili, Camarines Sur Madam : This refers to your letter dated November 18, 2002 relative to the Ante and Post Mortem Fees being imposed on individuals and corporations engaged in buying/selling live chickens and dressing the same at the established and licensed dressing plants within that municipality. That Office claims that said fees are collected based on the rates imposed by the National Meat Inspection Commission (NMIC), a national agency. Thus, the request for the opinion if the local sanggunian has the power to enact or amend such law, which is a national imposition. In this connection, please be informed that a national imposition may not be amended unless a corresponding amendatory provision of law is enacted thru the legislative process. Accordingly, Administrative Order No. 13, s. 1993 dated May 21, 1992 entitled "REVISION OF SCHEDULE OF FEES AND CHARGES FOR SERVICES RENDERED BY THE NATIONAL MEAT INSPECTION COMMISSION" still holds. SAcaDE Very truly yours, (SGD.) MA. PRESENTACION R. MONTESA Executive Director