Dagupan plans to tax isaw, other chicken byproducts

DAGUPAN CITY, Philippines – Soon, the lowly isaw (chicken intestine) and other chicken parts regarded as Filipino sidewalk delicacies will contribute to this city’s coffers.

This, as city officials plan to tax these byproducts by way of an inspection fee in local markets.

“Sadly, no inspection fee is collected from chicken byproducts,” said city veterinarian Fernando Banchiran, noting that 10,000 kilos of these chicken parts are sold daily in the city market.

Under the old city revenue ordinance, inspection fees are collected only from butchered cows or carabaos (P100 per head), hogs (P50 each) and chicken (P1 each).

Councilor Jesus Canto welcomed Banchiran’s suggestion, saying this will be included among the amendments to the revenue ordinance currently being discussed.

Canto said an inspection fee of 25 centavos per kilo of these chicken byproducts would mean additional revenue for the city.

Market inspection fees collected from August to December last year alone reached more than P1.2 million.