Government finance and economic managers are reportedly amenable to reducing to 250,000 metric tons (MT) the minimum access volume (MAV) for pork imports.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III said on Saturday, May 1, that this was among those discussed by senators and the executive department's economic cluster in their ongoing negotiations for a compromise on the decision to significantly increase the MAV and at the same time reduce the tariffs on imported pork products.

Senators, according to Sotto, have proposed to cut the raise in pork import volume to 200,000 MT, from the 404,210 MT that authorities wanted to allow.

The economic cluster then offered a compromise of 254,000 MT.

"'Yong sa minimum access volume, payag sila pero 254, dahil sa computation nila (About the MAV, they are okay with reducing it to 254,000 MT, citing their computation)," Sotto disclosed in an interview with DWIZ radio.

On the other hand, the economic managers were not too receptive when senators made a similar proposition for the import duties contained in Executive Order (EO) No. 128.

Lawmakers sought a 15-percent duty for in-quota imports, instead of the reduction to five to 10 percent, from the current tariff of 30 percent.

For imports outside the MAV which are imposed a 40-percent levy, they proposed a raise to 20 percent, instead of the 10 to 20 percent as ordered by the President.

"Medyo meron silang ibang pananaw (They have a different opinion about it)," Sotto said.

The Senate leader said that local hog raisers and farmers would be okay if the government would modify the import duties to a rate that is not too low, and the MAV to a sufficient amount.

But the economic managers maintained that restricting importation, particularly the tariffs, would result in spike in pork prices and inflation.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III explained to senators during a Senate hearing last Tuesday that consumers would save P67.38 billion if pork supply and prices are stabilized.

Sotto said he and his colleagues will meet on Monday, May 3, to discuss their next move.

They will also have to consult again groups of hog raisers and other stakeholder before responding to the executive department's opposition to their proposal, he added.

He said he hopes that the legislative and executive department will come up with a compromise before they resume regular sessions on May 17.

"Kasi ayaw kong mangyari 'yong komprontasyon sa May 17, eh. 'Pag hindi tayo nagkasundo, 'pag hindi kami nagkasundo, hindi ko mapipigilan ang kahit sino sa amin sa Senado at sa Kongreso...may magfile ng joint resolution at baka bawiin namin yong delegated power namin na binigay sa Presidente (Because I don't want a confrontation come May 17. That if we failed to have a compromise, I cannot prevent my colleagues in the Senate, or even in Congress, from filing a joint resolution that would revoke the power we delegated to the President)," Sotto said.

"Ayaw ko sanang makarating doon (I don't want to reach that point)," he added.

Several senators have been opposed to the government's decision to reduce the tariff and increase the MAV, fearing that it will result in the displacement of the local swine producers and other concerned industries.

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon earlier disclosed his plan to file a joint resolution to invalidate President Duterte's EO 128.