PORK PROTEST | Pork group eyeing ‘pig holiday’ after Duterte order to lower import tariff rates

April 16, 2021 , 09:58 AM

(April 16, 2021) – Amid growing calls for President Rodrigo Duterte to junk his recent decision to lower pork import tariff rates, a national pork producers group on Thursday warned about a “pig holiday” as a form of protest.

Nicanor Briones, vice president of Pork Producers Federation of the Philippines (PPFP), said they are considering the move should Duterte reject the requests of the Senate, Congress, and pork groups to hold off Executive Order (EO) 128.

“Pig holiday ay kapag kami ay nagtigil bentahan muna dahil kami ay nagpoprotesta laban dito sa ginagawa ng ating (Department of Agriculture) secretary (William Dar) na puro parusa sa amin. ’Di malayong mangyari ulit ‘yan pero kami ay may pag-asa sapagkat 20 senador ang naggawa ng resolution to recall ‘yung EO 128 at tsaka ‘yung MAV (minimum access volume) plus,” said Briones in an interview with One News’ The Chiefs.

Last week, Duterte issued EO 128 to address the pork supply issues caused by the African Swine Fever (ASF). The order imposes reduced tariff rates of 5-10% for imported pork products for one year. Those outside the MAV quota, meanwhile, will be issued with a lowered tariff rate of 15% for the next three months and 20% for the succeeding nine months.

The PPFP said these would do more harm than good, noting the demand for pork products isn’t as huge as the Malacañang said due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Sobra-sobra ang kanilang estimate. Ang estimate nila ng demand, ‘yung 1.6 million metric tons, ‘yan ay from 2018. Ngayon ay maraming saradong restaurant and resorts. Maraming walang trabaho. Sa experiences ng ibang bansa, nagre-reduce ang demand ng baboy. Dahil sa kakulangan ng pera at sarado ang maraming establishment,” said Briones.

On Wednesday, the Senate Committee of the Whole adopted a resolution urging Duterte to withdraw EO 128, stating that allowing excessive pork products in the market could deprive local hog raisers to compete, especially with the ASF issue.

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon called Duterte’s decision “irrational” and “drastic” while stressing that it would be “the final nail in the coffin” for the local hog industry.

Despite the lifting of the price ceiling, which Duterte also previously imposed, pork prices in public markets in Metro Manila have been at around P350 to P400 per kilo, which many Filipinos can’t afford these days.

With all the issues surrounding Duterte’s recent mandate, the PPFP joined the calls for the government to ensure the livelihood of local pork producers and hog raisers and fix the other prevalent concerns.

“Recall (EO) 128, recall MAV plus, (include) indemnification ng P10,000 per head, ‘wag na magbigay ng freezer (to importers), stop smuggling, at magkaroon ng food safety ‘yung pagche-check. Kapag nagawa natin ‘yan, kaming mga magbababoy kusang magre-repopulate,” said Briones.

(Kiko Demigillo/PM)

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