DA: New EO on pork tariffs, SRP to be released soon

FOLLOWING the issuance of Executive Order 133 increasing the minimum access volume (MAV) for pork imports, the Department of Agriculture on Wednesday said it will release the new suggested retail price (SRP) for pork within the week.

In a virtual presser, Agriculture Secretary William Dar said final discussions are ongoing for the new SRP.

“Actually, with the initial report yesterday, hopefully within the week we will have the suggested retail price for the imported pork based on EO 28 [which reduced the tariff rates on pork imports until April 7, 2022],” he added.

Also, Dar said the new EO lowering tariff rates will be released “soon” to amend EO 128.

The DA earlier disclosed that the tariff rates on pork imports would be increased by 5 percentage points.

With the compromise, the inquota tariff rate for pork imports until July 7 would be 10 percent while out-quota would be 20 percent from the initial lowered rates of 5 percent

and 15 percent, respectively.

Boost efforts

IN a separate statement, Dar, meanwhile, described Presidential Proclamation No. 1143 declaring a state of calamity throughout the Philippines due to the African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreak as the much-needed “shot-in-the-arm.”

With the proclamation, Dar said local government units (LGUS) are now allowed to set aside part of their Local Risk Reduction and Management Fund or calamity fund for quick response purposes, and to allocate funds for ASF prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response, rehabilitation and recovery in their areas.

“The proclamation will also enable us to partner with the LGUS— from the provincial, city, municipal and barangays—and hog raisers’ groups and the private sector to craft and implement their respective ASF contingency plan, anchored on strong and sustained biosecurity, surveillance, monitoring and protection measures, covering both Asf-affected and Asf-free areas,” said Dar.

Per Proclamation 1143, the country will remain under the state of calamity for one year, unless earlier lifted or extended as circumstances may warrant.

“We believe this will give swine industry stakeholders enough time to build defenses for areas that remain unaffected by what is termed as the Covid -19 of the hog sector,’” he added.

The DA had sought the declaration of the state of calamity in March this year, and this was supported by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) chaired by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana through NDRRMC resolution passed on April 20, 2021.

Lawmakers also pressed Malacañang for a declaration of a state of calamity to boost the ASF response.

Da-bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) Director Reildrin Morales said since the ASF was reported in August 2019, it has spread to 12 regions, 46 provinces, 502 cities and municipalities, and 2,652 barangays.

With Proclamation 1143, the LGUS can provide substantial resources for ASF control and prevention, through strict implementation of biosecurity measures, said Morales.

According to Dar “over three million pigs have been lost, causing a contraction in pork supply and an unprecedented increase in the price of pork.”

Kiko: Tap pork tariffs for ASF response

MEANWHILE, Senator Francis Pangilinan prodded the Duterte administration to tap pork import tariffs to bankroll piggery repopulation and ongoing efforts to effectively control ASF.

He said on Wednesday that as the ASF continues to cost the local industry billions of pesos in lost livelihoods, the government can tap pork import tariffs to fund pig repopulation and other efforts to control ASF.

With his Senate Bill 2176, or The Affordable Pork Act of 2021, Pangilinan envisions remedial legislation creating a Swine Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (SCEF) to “help curtail the spread of ASF and contribute to the recovery of the industry.”

He asserted that “Whatever tariff is collected from pork imports should be used to combat ASF,” adding that they could be “used as subsidy to transport hogs from pig farms to markets, as well as insurance for hog raisers, for repopulation, and for the overall improvement of the industry.”