House probe sought on DA's bid to import meat products
The Department of Agriculture’s insistence in resorting to importation of meat products has raised serious suspicions on its actions that require a congressional investigation, House Deputy Minority Leader and Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate said Sunday.
Zarate said the Makabayan bloc will file a resolution calling for a congressional inquiry into the DA’s “highly deplorable actions” in addressing the rising prices of pork and chicken products.
Zarate noted that resorting to importation has become a “default reaction” of the Duterte administration whenever serious supply problems in the agriculture sector appear.
“Tayo ang pinakamalaking importer ng bigas sa mundo, ngayon pati ba naman sa baboy at manok ay target din ng DA na tayo ang manguna? (We are the biggest rice importer in the world, and now DA also wants us to lead in targeting hog and poultry),” lamented Zarate.
The opposition leader warned that DA’s plan to import more meat products will only push the agricultural industry, especially the hog and poultry raising sectors, to its eventual death.
Agriculture Secretary William Dar, Zarate said, should explain why the DA still wants to import pork and chicken notwithstanding the assurance of Philippine Statistics Authority data indicating that there is enough local supply to meet the country’s demand.
“According to the PSA, the per capita consumption of pork and chicken in 2020 is 15 kilos and 13.7 kilos, respectively. This translates to an estimated consumption of 1.5 million metric tons and 1,479.6 thousand metric tons,” said Zarate.
“Meanwhile, local production of pork and chicken in 2020 is 2,142.65 thousand metric tons and 1,809.85 thousand metric tons, respectively,” the Makabayan solon stated.
He asked: "Now where does the DA get its data that there is a need to import? Is it saying that the PSA data is wrong? "
According to Zarate importation should be government’s last resort in addressing supply shortage and rising prices.
But now, it appears that the DA walking upside down as it is itching to triple the minimum access volume (MAV) from 54,000 metric tons (MT) to 162,000 MT plus lower its tariff - all without even consulting the stakeholders who would be severely affected by importation,” the opposition solon said.
. "These are the recommendations on the ground and we are wondering why the DA have not consulted them first. We will push for an immediate House probe on this highly deplorable actions of Sec. William Dar and the DA in the handling of thia increasing food prices," Zarate stated.