THE lower tariff for pork products is expected to last by another month after President Duterte issued a new issuance for its implementation.
On Monday, Malacañang finally released a copy of Executive Order (EO) No. 134 (s. 2021), which increased the tariff for pork to 10 percent (in-quota) and 20 percent (out-quota) for the first three months, and 15 percent (in-quota) and 25 percent (out-quota) from the 4th to the 12th month.
The issuance repealed EO 128, which imposed the following schedule of tariff rate adjustments: from 30 percent (in-quota) and 40 percent (out-quota) to 5 percent (in-quota) and 15 percent (out-quota) for the first three months, and 10 percent (in-quota) and 20 percent (out-quota) from the 4th to the 12th month.
EO 128 took effect last April, but has now been replaced with EO 134, which will take effect this month once published in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation.
The lower tariff for pork is meant to address the shortage of the food item after the African Swine Fever (ASF) killed or led to the culling of 3 million hogs.
Rice tariff
In a related development, Malacañang defended EO 135 against criticism from a farmers’ group that the measure, which reduced tariff for rice, is unnecessary since the country is not suffering from a rice shortage.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the government opted to facilitate the importation of the staple in Filipino diet to offset the expected drop in rice production this harsh summer, which he attributed to climate change.
“This is to ensure that the adverse consequence of climate change will not cause a shortage in rice supply,” Roque said in an online press briefing on Monday.
Under EO 135, it is also stated President Duterte opted to bring in more imported rice amid the expected increase in the price of rice in some countries as Covid-19 affected its production.