President Rodrigo Duterte has signed an executive order retaining the 5-percent tariff of mechanically deboned meat of poultry, documents from the Palace revealed on Monday.
EO No. 82, which was signed by the President on June 13, 2019, maintains the reduced rates of duty on certain agricultural products, including deboned meat of chicken, turkey, and turkey meat and its offals.
“The present economic condition warrants the continued application of the reduced rate of duties on certain agricultural products to mitigate the impact of high prices of goods,” the order read.
According to the order, the lower tariff rate on the given products shall be applicable until 30 June 2020 or until such time that a law amending the provisions of Republic Act No. 8178, or the Agricultural Tariffication Act, on rice tarriffication, is enacted, whichever comes first.
“The NEDA Board recommends the maintenance of the tariff rates under EO No. 23 for mechanically deboned meat of chicken and turkey, and turkey meat and its offals,” the order read.
Last February, in order to liberalize rice importation by replacing quantitative import restrictions with tariffs, Duterte has signed Republic Act No. 11203, or the Rice Tariffication Law.
Two months ago, the Palace announced that the RA 11203’s implementing rules and regulations were already formulated by the Department of Agriculture.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Association of Meat Processors Inc. lauded Duterte’s order to reduce the tariff on MDM, saying it “reflects the government’s determined efforts to spur the growth of the local manufacturing industry.”
“MDM chicken is a vital raw material in the manufacture of processed meat products and is not locally produced. The President’s action sends a strong signal to local and foreign investors that the investment climate in the Philippines is fair, attractive and competitive,” said PAMPI in a statement.
“PAMPI fully supports government’s efforts to promote economic growth while ensuring affordable food products to its people,” it added.