President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Monday (April 19) said he is prepared to withdraw Executive Order No. 128 that temporarily reduces the tariff on imported pork products when the domestic supply improves.
The President said he “understands” the intention of several senators who asked him to reconsider the order to protect the local hog industry. However, Duterte said the EO is only temporary, and that it will help increase the pork supply in the country and reduce its price.
“Kung medyo malakas na ‘yong domestic market [If the domestic market is strong] and there is a movement, madali lang naman [it’s easy]. We can always withdraw the EO that I signed. It’s just a temporary measure really to bring down the prices.”
The Department of Agriculture (DA) earlier recommended reducing the import tariff so that the inflation rate can be controlled while reviving the hog repopulation program of the country. Hog numbers dipped after African swine fever broke out in the country beginning in July 2019.
“So ‘yung EO 128 was a result of a painstaking process, and that’s why ‘yung lowering of tariff will really lower down the pork prices in the market,” DA Secretary William Dar said Monday.
Report from Cleizl Pardilla/NGS-jlo
