Senator Imee Marcos on Saturday criticized the Department of Agriculture (DA) for its knee-jerk reaction to the pork supply shortage.
Marcos, chairwoman of the Senate economic affairs committee, said the DA should have addressed the African Swine Fever (ASF) problem that hit the hog industry as far back as two years ago.
She said Vietnam and the US have been using anti-ASF vaccines but the Philippines has not faced this problem squarely.
The knee-jerk reaction of the DA to this problem is to authorize the importation of pork at a reduced tariff rate although the country is looking for funds for COVID-19 vaccine purchases, she pointed out.
President Duterte had also imposed price controls on pork.
Marcos said she still does not have enough data from the DA on the pork shortage. She also said she is surprised that the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) supported the stand of DA to import pork.
Marcos said she and Senator Cynthia A. Villar, chairwoman of the Senate agriculture and food committee, had sent a ‘’love letter’’ to President Duterte asking his administration to help the local hog raisers because nothing is happening despite several Senate committee hearings.
She said they are not against pork importation but that the tariff should not be very low.
Asked whether the President has replied, Marcos said: ‘’Sa ngayon wala pa. ang DA trying hard magrepopulate ng baboy (None yet. the DA is trying to repopulate pigs.)