The Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food Inc. (PCAFI) is calling on lawmakers in the 20th Congress to prioritize legislative measures that will boost the country’s agriculture sector, beginning with earmarking tariff collections for the development of corresponding local industries.
PCAFI president Danilo Fausto said tariff revenues from imported commodities should be allocated to the domestic sectors where they were generated, following the model of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) and the Salt Industry Development and Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (SIDCEF).”
Tariff collections should be directed back to the commodity sector where they were collected to support its growth and competitiveness,” Fausto said. He noted that industries such as cacao, coffee, sugar, tobacco, and vegetables receive minimal budget support compared to rice, despite their economic potential.
PCAFI said the government has failed to earmark funds from imports entering under the Minimum Access Volume (MAV) system since the expiration of the Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund in December 2022, with revenues now going to the general fund instead.
The group also pushed for the passage of the proposed Animal Industry Development and Competitiveness Act, which seeks to establish a 20-billion-peso fund to support the livestock, poultry, dairy, and corn industries. The measure would help revitalize the hog sector, which has been affected by African Swine Fever, and provide long-overdue support to poultry and dairy, which have largely relied on private investments.
PCAFI further called for the abolition of the MAV system for pork, chicken, and corn, saying it is no longer relevant. “The volume of imports is more than 15 times the MAV. There is no more need to reassure our trading partners of access through MAV quotas,” Fausto said, adding that in-quota and out-quota tariff rates are now practically the same, making the system obsolete.Other proposals include the creation of a national virology center to boost local vaccine production, especially for African Swine Fever and avian influenza. PCAFI also urged the full implementation of Republic Act 7884, which requires commercial milk processors to source at least 5% of their supply from local producers.
The group also called for amendments to Republic Act 1556, or the Livestock and Poultry Feeds Act, to reflect current feed industry practices and cover other animals such as aquaculture species, pets, and game animals, as well as government support to farm laborers.