Published April 20, 2021, 5:12 PM
The Duterte administration’s chief economic manager has called on lawmakers to support temporary increased in pork imports at lower tariff rates to address the scarcity in the domestic supply of hog meat.
Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III said the lower import tariffs and higher the Minimum Access Volume (MAV) on pork will ensure that meat remains affordable to Filipino families already reeling from the economic impact of the pandemic.
Dominguez, chairman of President Duterte’s Economic Development Cluster (EDC), said their policy on pork importation went extensive deliberations and consultations among concerned agencies and the public.
No increase in MAV until Congress resumes session - Drilon
The Department of Agriculture (DA) cannot raise the minimum access volume (MAV) on pork imports just yet as Congress needs to act on the proposal when it resumes session next month, Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon asserted on Tuesday. In keeping with the spirit of the law, the Congress, where the power to set import quotas lies, should be given the chance to act on the proposal to increase the minimum access volume on pork imports, Drilon said. To implement it without waiting for Congress to resume session and deliberate on the proposal is illegal, not to mention it is a total disrespect to a co-equal branch, Drilon stressed.
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Press Release
Senate COW adopts resolution urging Duterte to recall botcha policies on pork importation The two policies can potentially spell the demise of our local hog industry, says Drilon, author of the resolution
As local hog raisers cry for help and fear that imported pork will flood the market soon, the Senate Committee of the Whole adopted today a resolution authored by Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon urging the President to withdraw Executive Order No. 128, which provides for the temporary modification of the rates of import duty for fresh, chilled or frozen meat of swine, and to recall the recommendation to increase the Minimum Access Volume of pork.
(Photo by Jansen Romero / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
In the joint resolution, the lawmakers also called for the rejection of the Minimum Access Volume (MAG) of pork imports from 54,000 metric tons to 404,000 MTs or an equivalent of 749 percent increase in the current quota.
“Tariff reduction and increased MAV of pork imports will further decimate the local pork industry as we know it and will also undermine our local production and food security, as what has happened to the rice industry,” they said.
The joint resolution was filed by Representatives Carlos Zarate, Rose Marie Arenas, Jose Christopher Belmonte, Arlene Brosas, Argel Joseph Cabatbat, France Castro, Eufemia Cullamat, Lorenz Defensor, Sarah Jane Elago, Edgar Erice, Ferdinand Gaite, Janette Garin, Rico Gerona, Jonathan Keith Flores, Edcel Lagman, Geraldine Roman, and Noel Villanueva.