Seventy percent or some 140,000 metric tons (MT) of the expanded minimum access volume (MAV) allocation of pork imports under the Executive Order (EO) 133 will be imported between July and October this year, the MAV management committee said.
In a resolution released Monday, June 28, the MAV panel disclosed its 70-30 percent calibrated distribution of the adjusted MAV allocation.
Under the resolution, 70 percent of the MAV allocation of pork imports will be admitted within July to October, while the remaining 30 percent or 60,000 MT will be slates for November 2021 to January 2022.
The committee said it will be "open to all interested importers at a first-come first-served basis".
It further said that it "unanimously approved" the 70-30 percent calibrated distribution "to attain the real intent and purpose of EO 133," which is to "immediately the current supply gap in pork meat and to provide consumers with adequate and affordable food and to lower inflation."
The resolution also indicates that a maximum limit of 50 full container load--equivalent to approximately to 1,250 MT--shall be allowed per application, per importer.
It also stated that other importers or new entrants are given equal opportunity subject to the agreed manner of distribution.
The approved manner of distribution of allocation is a revised version of the earlier recommendation of the Department of Agriculture (DA) Inter-Agency Technical Working Group that crafted the proposed calibrated distribution of 55 percent or 110,000 MT for July to September 2021 and 45 percent or 90,000 MT for October 2021 to January 2022.
The MAV advisory council then recommended spreading the volume evenly for 12 months, which, according to the DA Legal Services, runs counter to the real intent of EO 133.
On May 10, 2021, President Durterte signed the particular directive in response to the tight supply of pork amid the African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreak in the country. The supply woes caused pork prices to skyrocket.
The Palace order increases the 2021 MAV for pork meat from 54,210 MT to 254,210 MT, or an additional 200,000 MT.