THE Department of Agriculture (DA) said it plans to suspend the issuance of sanitary and phytosanitary import clearances between mid-November and January to reduce competition from foreign producers faced by hog farmers during the peak demand months.
Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. added that he also supports the restoration of pork import tariffs to 30% for shipments within the minimum access volume (MAV) quota and 40% for those exceeding the quota, and has initiated investigations preparatory to imposing safeguard measures against pork imports. It is awaiting approval from the Tariff Commission.
Mr. Laurel said hog farmers have been experiencing low farmgate prices due to competition from cheap imports.
The DA said it will consider the needs of meat processors and grant exemptions when needed.
The onset of African Swine Fever in 2021 raised worries about the pork supply, prompting former President Rodrigo R. Duterte to issue an executive order (EO) lowering the tariff for imports within the MAV quota to 15% and shipments exceeding the quotas to 25%.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. then issued another EO which allowed the reduced tariffs to run until 2028, subject to periodic review.
Mr. Laurel’s commitments align with the position of the Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura for a return to a 30-40% tariff structure and a 120-day suspension of additional imports.
Separately, the Pork Producers Federation of the Philippines, Inc. and the Agricultural Sector Alliance of the Philippines Party-list said called for a halt to the sale of live pigs between Oct. 21 and 25. Both organizations also staged protests outside the DA headquarters. — Maria Mikaela H. Mormon