THE title is the window of a law or ordinance, thus the need to make it precise, direct and not prone to different interpretations. 

This was the gist of the request of Dagupan City Councilor Michael Fernandez to Councilors Marcelino Fernandez and Jose Netu Tamayo as sponsors of a proposed ordinance intending to accredit separate consignacions selling exclusive Dagupan and Pangasinan bangus and dealers of “imported” (south-borne bangus).

Councilor Fernandez, the majority floor leader, objected to “imported bangus” because he said it could mean that it is about bangus sourced from Taiwan and Indonesia, which are bigger producers of bangus than the Philippines.

In the proposed ordinance, “imported” or south-born bangus as originating from either Bulacan, Pampanga, Rizal, Laguna and Batangas, Sto. Tomas and Agoo, La Union.  

Fernandez maintained that there are only two kinds of bangus being sold in the city– ‘Dagupan bangus’ and ‘non-Dagupan bangus’, an opinion shared by Acting Vice Mayor Celia Lim.  Fernandez called on authors to replace the word “imported.”

Tamayo objected because replacing the term will substantially affect the body structure of the proposed ordinance where “imported bangus” was repeatedly used.

With Fernandez’s pronounced objection to the title, the committees on agriculture and laws, ordinances and judiciary headed by Lino Fernandez and Tamayo, respectively, were directed by presiding pro tempore Councilor Liberato Reyna IV to conduct one more public hearing to fine-tune the proposed ordinance.

The two committees already held four public hearings on the measure that were already marked by heated debates between members of the Dagupan Bangus Consignacion Dealers Association headed by Danila Cayabyab and Dagupan Bangus Growers Association headed by Lilia Yasar.

Both authors believe separate consignacions for exclusive Dagupan bangus, Pangasinan bangus and “imported” bangus will support and protect the indigenous Dagupan bangus without infringing on free market policy.

Under the proposed measure, the “imported” will be allowed entry into Dagupan two days a week. The Pangasinan bangus coming from Binmaley, Lingayen, Sual, Alaminos, Bani, Anda, Bolinao and San Fabian will be exempt from the market schedule and will be allowed to enter the Dagupan market any day of the week. 

Among the acts prohibited in the proposed measure are smuggling or dealing or possession of “imported” bangus beyond the market schedules predetermined by importer of bangus in coordination with the City Agriculture Office, and selling of bangus outside accreditation.

The penalties include suspension to operate for a week, plus confiscation of bangus, for the first offense; suspension to operate for a week plus confiscation of bangus for the second offense; and closure of business for the third offense. (Leonardo Micua) 

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