2.5 million kilos of imported pork coming: meat importers

100 containers containing 2.5 million kilos of imported pork are coming to the country, according to the Meat Importers and Traders Association (MITA).

If Executive Order No. 128 continues to be implemented, which will mandate a 5 to 10 percent tariff on in-quote and 15 to 20 percent tariff on out-quote, importers will sell it to retailers at P200 per kilo.

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This would push through if the Senate and the House would not block Duterte’s EO.

“The deliberations or objections from Congress, Senate is creating confusion because the importers, alanganin na sila kasi baka biglang bawiin ng gobyerno itong mababang taripa,” said MITA President Jess Cham.

Some vendors have already started selling imported meat but some are still not moving, such as in the Trabajo Market, because consumers prefer fresh meat.

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At Quinta Market, some vendors are also skeptical that imported meats may cause another spread of African swine fever (ASF) in the country.

“Kailangan din nating masigurado na ‘yong maibabagsak nilang karne ay wala hong sakit na ASF,” said Ricky Delgado.

According to the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS), the Philippines only imports from accredited countries without ASF.

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2.5 million kilos of imported pork coming: meat importers

“NMIS and BAI (Bureau of Animal Industry) inspect farms, facilities, laboratories in foreign countries… ang kinatatakutan na lang natin ay ‘yong mga smuggled, ‘yong mga talagang hindi dumaan sa proseso,” said NMIS Spokesperson Orly Ongsotto.

“Mayroon ‘yang certificate of inspection of imported meat,” Ongsotto explained.

But the certificate is not enough, according to the Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (Sinag).

“We saw in other countries na pre-chosen eh dumating sa kanila eh contaminated pa rin and dumating din dati rito sa Cebu… kailangan talaga i-test lahat ng dumadating,” said Sinag Chairman Rosendo So.

Meanwhile, the National Economic and Development Authority supported the reduction of tariffs on imported meat.

According to NEDA Undersecretary Mercedita Sombilla, only a small part of the country’s needs can be met by imported pork.

He also said that consumers can save a lot from the low price of imported pork.

Malacañang is confident in the decisions of Agriculture Secretary William Dar.

According to Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, the president will respect it in case Congress revokes EO 128 that lowered the tariff on imported meat.