Published February 5, 2021, 4:00 PM The Department of Agriculture (DA) will not withdraw its proposal for tariff reduction on pork and rice imports despite the growing number of groups – including farmers, raisers, advocates – opposing such a move. When asked if he will consider the possibility of withdrawing DA’s proposal, Agriculture Secretary William Dar simply said “no”. He did not expound his answer. He even said on Friday that he is hopeful that the Tariff Commission (TC) will soon approve it. Department of Agriculture Secretary William Dar (Department of Agriculture Philippines / FACEBOOK / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN) DA’s proposal to lower the tariff rates for in-quota and out-quota imports of rice and pork for a period of one year is now pending approval at TC.