Business NEWS

Two big farmers’ groups have sought the intervention of the Senate regarding the recently issued Executive Order (EO) 135, which temporarily reduced the import tariff rates for rice coming from non-ASEAN countries.

The Philippines is now under a state of calamity for a period of one year due to African Swine Fever (ASF), but the government’s Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) said recovery of the local hog sector is expected to happen in 2023 yet.

Malacañang has put the entire Philippines under a state of calamity amid the prevalence of African Swine Fever (ASF) nearly two months after the Senate proposed the move, a decision considered “a moral victory for local hog industry”.

After weeks of disagreement on pork imports, the Senate and the President’s economic team, led by Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, decided to lower the import tariff cut proposed under Executive Order (EO) 128 and adjust the volume of pork imports allowed to enter the Philippines under minimum access volume (MAV).

 The government’s failure to stop smuggled pork imports has put the country at more risk of contracting new variants of African Swine Fever (ASF) that began to cause further damage in China, the world’s largest pork-producing country.           

Consumers are urged to keep on patronizing local pork amid the issuance of Executive Order (EO) 128, which will bring down the tariff on pork imports and will pave the way for the entry of more imported pork into the Philippines. 

The Philippine government will no longer extend the price ceiling on pork and chicken in Metro Manila, but will impose a price cap or suggested retail price (SRP) on imported pork only starting Friday, April 9.

Several agriculture lobby groups jointly appealed for President Rodrigo Duterte to withdraw his recommendation to increase the Minimum Access Volume (MAV) for pork by 350,000 metric tons (MT) as this may cause further damage to the local hog industry.

President Rodrigo Duterte’s recommendation to increase the Minimum Access Volume (MAV) for pork by 350,000 metric tons (MT) will result in losses on the part of consumers and local hog raisers, a group said. 

Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) wrote to Tariff Commission Chairperson Marilou Mendoza to raise the tariff on HS 0203 meat of swine (fresh, chilled, or frozen) to 44 percent.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has been strongly urged to withdraw its proposal to reduce the tariff on pork imports as well as increase the Minimum Access Volume (MAV) allocation while the investigation on alleged “tongpats” is ongoing.

The government-funded transport subsidy for hog shipment is now available, but hog raisers must first follow a lengthy process.

The Philippine government is eyeing a way bigger minimum access volume (MAV) allocation, or about 388,790 metric tons (MT), for pork.

Aside from the local livestock industry, the Philippine government also stands to lose if the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) proposal to reduce the tariff on pork imports will be given the green light.

The construction of the first first-border inspection facility in the Philippines, which should prevent the entry of animal diseases in the country, is yet to start more than a year since the Department of Agriculture (DA) announced such a plan.

The Philippine Association of Meat Processors Inc. (PAMPI) is asking President Rodrigo Duterte to authorize limited importation of up to 50,000 metric tons (MT) only at zero tariff at zero.

Even if the implementation of a price freeze on farm commodities from November to December failed to stop the cost of pork and chicken from rising, the government is still keen on resorting to the same strategy, which is hoped to be finalized within the week.

The Philippine government is planning to triple the minimum access volume (MAV) allocation for pork in a bid to address the shortfall in the commodity, which is caused by the highly fatal animal disease that is the African Swine Fever (ASF).