More members of Congress supported the joint resolution seeking for the termination of President Rodrigo Duterte’s Executive Order No. 128 that was supposed to lower the tariff rate for imported pork.
Among the 22 lawmakers are Michael Gorriceta, Ria Christina Fariñas, Leo Rafael Cueva, Onyx Crisologo, Evelina Escudero, Pablo Ortega, Godofredo Guya, Sergio Dagooc, Presley De Jesus, Adriano Ebcas, Len Alonte, Joseph Bernos, Luis Ferrer, Estrellita Suansing, Horacio Suansing, Raymond Mendoza, Greg Gasataya, Alex Advincula, Vilma Santos-Recto, Ed Christopher Go, Diego Ty, and Allan Ty.
In total, 39 solons have signed the resolution.
According to House Joint Resolution 37, tariff reduction, as well as the increased minimum access volume of pork imports, would further hurt local pork industry and it would also undermine the local production and food security of the Philippines.
“It is not an assurance that reduced tariffs and increased importation will stabilize or reduce the current high prices of pork meat products which has become unfairly exorbitant for consumers,” the resolution stated.
“The government must heed the urgent demands and sincere appeal of hog raisers, producers and farmers against tariff reduction and MAV expansion of pork imports,” it added.
22 solons join calls to terminate Duterte’s EO on reducing tariff rate for pork imports
Last week, some senators also said they will pass a resolution blocking President Rodrigo Duterte’s order to lower the tax on imported meat that will surely bring down the local pork industry.
Three senators will file a joint resolution to repeal Duterte’s signed Executive Order 128 where the 30 percent import tariff within the import quota or minimum access volume (MAV) will be one year reduced to 5 percent, while the 40 percent tax beyond the MAV will be only 15 percent.
“By law, the authority of the president to fix tariff rates while Congress is not in session can be withdrawn or revoked by virtue of a joint resolution… Our local hog raisers suffered a double blow in the last two weeks and it is the duty of Congress to stand up for them,” said Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon.
The government will also lose P3.6 billion to P5.4 billion in taxes as a result, the Bureau of Customs said.