The two senators urged Agriculture Sec. Wiliam Dar to remind President Rodrigo Dutete of the department’s recommendation to declare a state of calamity in the pork industry.
During a hearing by the Senate Committee of the Whole on the impact of African swine fever (ASF) on the country’s food security, Sen. Francis Pangilinan said that it should be implemented to help hog raisers and curb the increase in pork price in the market due to lack of supply.
It is said that the Senate will discuss it on March 9 but until now it has not been implemented.
“Baka puwedeng i-follow po ninyo Secretary Willy na talagang crucial itong state of calamity declaration so we can mobilize local governments, the national government, the Department of Agriculture, para mapondohan,” said Pangilinan.
He said the declaration of a state of calamity is necessary to mobilize the government, local governments and fund the necessary projects.
Dar explained that they have already submitted a draft declaration to the Palace but have not yet received a response.
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State of calamity declaration in hog industry urged
He said the declaration is also important to be able to release funds for biosecurity and repopulation or re-increase the pig population in the country, according to Sen. Miguel Zubiri.
“I hope that we can really suggest to the president first of all the declaration of emergency for the pork industry para maka-release na po tayo ng pondo for the bio-security and repopulation and the soft loans,” he said.
The senators further stressed that the DA will not allocate enough funds to quickly recover the industry and lower the price of pork again.
According to the Department of Agriculture, from 12 million, the pig population is dropping to 9 million due to ASF.
As a result, the President issued an executive order allowing the import of up to 400,000 metric tons of pork products and reducing the tariff imposed to 5% to 20%, from the previous 30% to 40%.