CEBU CITY – The Pork Producers Federation of the Philippines Inc. (PROPORK), the umbrella organization of independent hog farmers and cooperatives in the country, on Monday, May 25, strongly opposed President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s decision to increase the Minimum Access Volume (MAV) for pork imports, calling it a move disconnected from the reality of the local swine industry.

The group said the President’s decision to issue Executive Order (EO) 116 increasing the MAV to 204,250 metric tons from 54,250 MT with lower tariffs shows a "disturbing disconnect from the true state of our industry."

“Contrary to PSA data suggesting a decline, the sector is actually recovering from African Swine Fever (ASF). Local and imported pork supply is already more than adequate. Increasing the MAV is unnecessary and counterproductive. It will only undermine local production," said PROPORK President Eric Harina.

PROPORK noted that since 2020, the government has repeatedly used the same formula: Increase imports with favorable tariffs to supposedly bring down pork retail prices. This strategy has consistently failed.

“Instead of lowering prices, it has primarily benefited traders and importers while killing local producers,” the federation added.

The group pointed to the Philippines’ structural supply chain inefficiency as the real culprit behind high pork prices. Despite low farmgate prices for local pork and low-cost imports, retail prices remain elevated.

“This clearly indicates a need to improve our underdeveloped supply and value chain, not merely flood the market with more imports,” PROPORK stressed.

The federation criticized the administration for bypassing proper process. The decision was made without meaningful stakeholder consultations and did not go through the MAV Council, the body mandated to issue a resolution to the MAV Management Committee (MMC), which then recommends action to the President.

PROPORK urged the President to immediately revoke the increased pork MAV, institutionalize genuine consultation with hog raisers and cooperatives before any trade policy decision, and

prioritize supply chain modernization instead of import liberalization.

“We are not against importation. But flooding our market while our local industry is still on its feet is not fair competition. It is a death sentence for Filipino hog farmers,” PROPORK said.

The federation warned that if left unchecked, this policy will reverse ASF recovery gains, bankrupt small farmers, and ultimately leave the country even more dependent on imports.