Lawmakers to Duterte: Scrap pork tariff EO

LAWMAKERS crossed party lines on Wednesday to file a joint resolution asking President Rodrigo Duterte to immediately withdraw an executive order imposing tariff cuts on pork importation.

Deputy Minority Leader and Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate said the resolution will “soon” be considered for adoption by the House of Representatives.

“We also trust that a similar measure will be filed and adopted by our Senate counterparts to avert this grave disaster that will certainly kill our local hog industry, in particular — and in general, the agricultural sector,” Zarate said.

The Joint House Resolution, which remains unnumbered as of press time, also seeks to reverse President Duterte’s order to expand the minimum access volume (MAV) of pork imports.

Despite opposition from local hog raisers, the President signed last week Executive Order 128, which reduces the tariff rates for imported meat to 5 percent from 30 percent until mid-2021 and between 10 percent and 20 percent in the succeeding months.

Duterte signed the order to address the supply shortage caused mainly by the African swine fever outbreak.

Executive Order 128 allows tariff reduction on pork imports, as well as the expansion of the MAV from 54,000 metric tons (MT) to 404,000 MT, which is equivalent to a 749-percent increase in the current quota. The President had said the move will help address the shortage of meat supply, stabilize prices of pork products and minimize rates of inflation.

However, the lawmakers underscored that reducing tariff rates may result in the loss of as much as 14 billion in revenues and that importing in excess may “flood the market and defeat the local industry,” according to domestic hog raisers and producers.

“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 and instead implement more effective and long-term solutions to strengthen and address the repopulation and rehabilitation of the local pork industry,” the lawmakers said.

“[EO 128] would only create irreparable damage to the pork industry and the agricultural sector. [It] runs contrary to the promotion of the general welfare of the people, which is a fundamental principle in our Constitution,” they added. “By this reason alone, EO 128 must be withdrawn and terminated immediately.”

Veto

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque, meanwhile, said the President may veto any measure that seeks to change the tariffs imposed on imported pork meat.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Roque said Congress can revoke the EO by passing a law.

“Congress may, by law, impose limitations on such delegated power or may reverse the same.”

But Roque also stressed the President can exercise his veto power.

“Should Congress pass another bill changing the tariff on imported pork, the President may veto any particular item or items in such appropriation, revenue, or tariff bill,” he said.

Roque said Malacañang respects the call of some senators.

However, he said given the importance of the issue, “the Executive and the Legislative branches can work together in protecting the interest of the stakeholders such as consumers and our hog raisers alike.”