Meat processors asked the government to amend Executive Order 128 to facilitate the entry of cheaper, imported pork.
Philippine Association of Meat Processors Inc. president Felix Tiukinhoy said his group appreciated the collaboration of the government and the private sector to revise the EO and put an end to the pork tariff issue.
The group earlier expressed concern over the Senate’s critical views on the EO, which might further delay the importation and affect the prices of locally-produced canned and processed meat products.
The Department of Agriculture agreed Wednesday to a compromise with the Senate to revise the tariff rates in EO 128 to 10 percent for in-quota importation and 20 percent for out-quota in the first three months; and 15 percent for in-quota and 25 percent for out-quota in the remaining nine months.
Under EO 128 signed on April 7, tariffs on pork imports within the minimum access volume were reduced from 30 percent to 5 percent for the first three months upon the effectivity of the order and 10 percent for the next nine months.
The DA and other related agencies, and the Senate also agreed that the MAV be reduced from 404,000 metric tons to 254,210 MT.
The DA said a compromise was necessary to protect consumers from the inflationary impact of high pork prices due to lack of supply.
PAMPI said it was grateful to the Economic Development Cluster of the Cabinet and the leadership of the Senate for exercising statesmanship in resolving the issue.
The DA will submit the new set of import tariffs to the National Economic and Development Authority board for a final recommendation to the Office of the President.
