Farmers hit Agriculture for promoting pork importation

MABALACAT CITY --The Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) has assailed the Department of Agriculture (DA) for its continued promotion of imported pork even as the African Swine Fever (ASF) and the economic effects of lockdowns continue to ravage the local hog industry.

“Why does our agriculture department promote and support foreign agricultural products? This is insane and unacceptable,” KMP National Chairperson Danilo Ramos said

In a project dubbed as “Presyong Risonable Dapat (PRD) Program: Frozen Meat Edition,” the DA, in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry and retail giant Robinsons, started selling imported pork products last July 29, 2021, the group claimed.

The move is limiting traders and making the imported meat product more directly available in retail, according to the KMU.

Under the program, meat products are sold at prices 30% cheaper than local markets, and below the suggested retail price (SRP), the group said.

“Instead of protecting local agricultural products, Secretary Dar is grossly supporting competing foreign products. Isn’t this a violation of the DA’s mandate?” Ramos asked.

According

to

its website, the DA is mandated to “[promote] agricultural development by providing the policy framework, public investments, and support services needed for domestic and export-oriented business enterpr i ses.”

The KMU said Dar was instrumental in pushing for the issuance of Executive Orders 133 and 134 which increased the country’s Minimum Access Volume for pork by 250,000 metric tons and lowered import taxes on pork.

Rudy Simeon extracts the patients with COVID-19, the disinfection team will be deployed to their residences.

“Depende po yung bilang ng bahay na dini-disinfect natin sa bilang ng mga pasyenteng na-ta-transport ng ACDRRMO,” Lazatin said.

The team deployed in the homes of COVID-19 patients, according to him, conduct disinfection from Monday to Sunday in the 33 barangays.

After every inoculation at the City College of Angeles and Angeles City National High School, another team from CENRO conducts disinfection.

The mayor has designated the City College of Angeles and Angeles City National High School as vaccination areas, with an average of 4,000 Angelen~ os being vaccinated daily - the highest in Pampanga to date.

Lazatin commended the hard work of city hall workers in the frontline services fighting the threat of COVID-19.