The Department of Agriculture (DA) is confident that the price of pork will not rise anew despite the expected expiration of the mandated price ceiling.
This followed the issuance of Executive Order No. 128 signed by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte temporarily reducing the tariff imposed on imported pork in a bid to address the ongoing issue on pork supply and prices.
Based on the EO, the tariff imposed on pork import under the minimum access volume (MAV) is reduced from 30% to 5% for the first three months of the EO’s effectivity. Pork imports tariff outside the MAV is also cut down from 40% to 15% for the same period.
Meat processors and legitimate importers have welcomed the decision of the government, saying it will allow them “to bring back affordable value-added pork products to the market.”
The DA will begin on Friday the strict implementation of the new suggested retail price (SRP) of imported pork of ₱270 to ₱350 per kilo. The agency will also ensure that food safety standards are followed for imported pork and require such compliance to be placed on labeled packs.
At least ₱45 million was allotted for the allocation of freezers to vendors of imported pork.
DA Secretary William Dar clarified that their top priority now is the repopulation of hogs while importation is only a “last resort” and for augmentation. – Report from Cleizl Pardilla/AG-jbb
