The Department of Agriculture (DA) is seeking to import an additional 150,000 metric tons (MT) of pork under the Minimum Access Volume Plus (MAV Plus) scheme in a bid to temper rising food prices ahead of the holiday season, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said in an interview.
Tiu Laurel clarified that the bulk of the imports will be channeled through the government’s Kadiwa program to help lower retail pork prices and ensure a more stable supply across public markets.
“The volume that we are asking for under MAV Plus is 150,000 tons. But the majority of this will only be sold to Kadiwa. The Kadiwa system is meant to bring pork prices down to a more reasonable market level,” he said.
Of the total, 30,000 MT will be allocated to meat processors to help stabilize the cost of canned goods. Tiu Laurel noted that the DA may even ask processors to reduce prices once the new supply arrives.
“We want to make sure the canned goods market doesn’t go up. What we’re trying to do is approve all of this so that by December, rice and pork will be cheaper. There won’t be too much of a spike, so we hope Christmas will be easier for all of us,” he said.
The remaining volume, approximately 100,000 MT, will be distributed through Kadiwa outlets, with some also earmarked for food services and other sectors.
The DA chief gave assurance that they are following the prescribed procedure and that coordination with key officials is ongoing. “We’ve already discussed this with the management committee, including Secretary [Ralph] Recto. It’s already in Malacañang and more or less okay,” he said.
“From what I understand, the rules say that if Congress doesn’t act on this within 15 days, it is considered approved,” he added. Tiu Laurel said the requested MAV Plus volume will cover a full year, beginning this August.
