PRESIDENT Duterte may issue the new executive order (EO) implementing the compromised tariff rates on pork imports next week, Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar said on Thursday.
Dar said the process for the crafting of the new EO started last Wednesday after senators and economic managers forged a compromise deal on the Executive’s twin proposal on pork imports.
Dar explained that the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) Board is expected to complete its process of recommending the new tariff rates to Duterte on Wednesday.
“From there the EO will be issued, hopefully next week,” he told reporters in an interview on Thursday.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) will study and release a new suggested retail price for imported pork to reflect the adjusted tariff rates, which would be 5 percentage points higher than what was prescribed in Duterte’s EO 128, Dar said.
Despite the adjustments both in pork tariffs and proposed minimum access volume (MAV) plus mechanism, Dar said the compromise is still a “win-win arrangement for everyone.”
“Of course, our goal of pulling down pork prices to almost what is possible, given the lowered tariffs, is there,” he said.
Meat Importers and Traders Association (Mita) President Jesus C. Cham confirmed that the current SRP on imported pork may increase by at least 5 percent, but would still remain cheaper compared to fresh locally produced meat.
For example, the P300 per kilogram SRP on imported pork liempo/belly may now range between P315 per kilogram and P320 per kilogram depending on the computation and analysis made by the DA, Cham explained.
The DA disclosed on Wednesday that the tariff rates on pork imports would be increased by 5 percentage points; it also lowered its initial proposal for minimum access volume (MAV) of 404,000 metric tons to just 254,210 MT.
With the compromise, the in-quota tariff rate for pork imports until July 7 would be 10 percent while out-quota would be 20 percent for out-quota from the initial lowered rates of five percent and 15 percent, respectively.
Likewise, the tariff rates for the last 9 months of EO 128 or from July 8 to April 7, 2022, would be increased by 5 percentage points to 15 percent for in-quota and 25 percent for out-quota imports.
Furthermore, the DA added that the economic team and the Senate also agreed that the MAV be reduced from 404,000 MT to 254,210 MT.
The Philippine Association of Meat Processors Inc. (Pampi) urged Duterte “to issue the amendatory executive order as soon as possible.”
“Pampi is pleased to note that when leaders in government and the private sector allow reason to prevail, a rational solution to a controversy can be reached without sacrificing the interest of any party,” the group said in a statement on Thursday.
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