About 200,000 metric tons of imported pork have been agreed to be gradually imported into the Philippines within a year.
This was agreed upon recently at the Minimum Access Volume (MAV) Council meeting.
So the pig farmers opposed when the inter-agency committee of the Department of Agriculture (DA) recommended that half of this number be entered immediately within 3 months starting July.
“That’s a recommendation, but we subjected that to a legal review if it contradicts the real intent of the executive order na dapat we have to bring in the supply so that mayroon impact doon sa price,” said Agriculture Assistant Secretary William Medrano.
“We have to bring in the supply, additional supply, so that ma-stabilize ‘yong supply ng baboy from import and then to have a significant impact of reducing the price in the market,” he added.
Nicanor Briones of the Pork Producers Federation of the Philippines thinks the DA wants to import 110,000 metric tons during this period for a lower tariff of 10 percent.
After that, the tariff on imported meat entering the MAV will increase to 15 percent.
Proposal to immediately import 110K metric tons of pork opposed
“‘Yong 60,000 mapapasama sa 10 percent lang ang tariff instead na 15 percent. Mawawalan na naman ng revenue ang gobyerno na P300 million,” paliwanag ni Briones.
The MAV management committee still needs to approve the rule for the scheduled entry of imported pork.
The hog raisers intend to appeal to follow the decision to divide 200,000 metric tons a year because Metro Manila cannot afford so much imported meat.
Meanwhile, for the first time, the Philippines exported fresh okra to South Korea.
The country had previously exported to Japan.
“It took 10 years before this first commercial shipment is done,” said Agriculture Secretary William Dar.
“This will strengthen our efforts to support high-value crops not only for consumption but for export,” the DA chief added.
The DA and the Department of Trade and Industry hope that the Philippines will be able to send more high-value crops to other countries as additional income for farmers.
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