Agriculture lobby group Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) asked the government to rule out importation in solving the supply and price crisis in the hog industry, which is now plagued by the fatal and highly contagious animal disease African Swine Fever (ASF).

In a statement, KMP asked the government to find ways to bring back prices of pork meat prices to levels before the ASF struck the country in 2019.

The average cost per kilo of pork pre-ASF was at P190 to P200 per kilo (/kg).

As of Tuesday, the prevailing price for pork stood at P340 to P400/kg at some markets in Metro Manila

To recall, the Department of Agriculture (DA) proposed to the Tariff Commission a reduction in the tariff for pork imports under the minimum access volume (MAV), from 30 percent to 5 to 10 percent tariff.

For pork imports outside MAV, the recommendation is for the tariff to be reduced to 15 to 20 percent from the current 40 percent.

Aside from pork, the DA also recommended reducing the tariff on rice imported from non-ASEAN countries to only 35 percent from the current 50 percent.

The Tariff Commission will conduct a hearing on February 4 to discuss the proposal.

“Instead of importation, the government must focus on strengthening the local production and crafting self-reliant food policies. We have seen the pitfalls of over importation at the expense of our local producers," KMP said.

"Secretary William Dar of DA asserts that the production cost of pork is at P130 per kilo. It is up to DA and the Department of Trade and Industry to bring down the prices that are acceptable to both consumers and producers," it added.

For his part, KMP Chairperson Emeritus Rafael Mariano said “the government has enough budget to grant support prices and subsidies”.

"Importation will further hurt the already ailing hog and livestock industries which posted negative production in 2020," Mariano, who served as the previous Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) secretary, said.

Industry players in hog and chicken raising said they are also amenable to price ceilings as long as there are significant subsidies and support for them.

According to them, the government can then provide repopulation and transportation support to raisers and breeders to address the negative production of pork and chicken.

KMP said the government must also provide urgent cash aid to poor sectors affected by record-high inflation and exorbitant food prices.

Since last year, farmers are asserting for P10,000 cash aid and P15,000 production subsidies.

On Monday, Malacanang has declared a temporary price freeze on fresh pork, with a price ceiling of P280 to P310/kg, in the National Capital Region, based on the recommendation of DA.

Under Executive Order No. 124, the price ceiling will remain in full force and effect for 60 days, unless extended by President Duterte upon the recommendation of DA.

DA Spokesperson Noel Reyes, however, said on Tuesday that such a price freeze will be effective on February 8.

As this happens, Agriculture Secretary William Dar pledged to investigate if there is price manipulation of pork and chicken that is being done by the “biyaheros” or the traders.