Pangilinan Wants EO for Lower Tariff for Pork Imports Lifted

Sen. Pangilinan Speaks on EO for Pork Imports

PANGILINAN – Philippine Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan wants the Executive Order (EO) for lower tariff for pork imports lifted.

Aside from the COVID-19 pandemic, another thing that greatly affected the country most especially the businessmen and the consumers was the African Swine Fever (ASF). Several countries abroad confirmed ASF and PH previously imposed import restrictions in certain nations.

The ASF does not affect or is not transmissible to humans but it can be transmitted among hogs speedily. It affected the supply of pork products in wet markets and as well as grocery stores.

To help address the shortage of pork products, the national government released an Executive Order mandating lower tariff for pork imports amid the ASF. It is in the pursuit for lower prices of pork for consumers.

Senator Kiko Pangilinan
Photo: Panay News

However, according to Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, it seems that the E.O. on lowered tariff for pork imports is not meeting its goal for the consumers. Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, the Senator is calling for the lifting of the said order.

According to Sen. Pangilinan, the price of pork is still higher compared to the price before the African Swine Fever (ASF) wherein pork was at Php 240.00 per kilo. Based on the data of the Department of Agriculture, as of June, the prevailing price of pork ham’s Php 340.00 per kilo while the pork belly’s at Php 380.00 per kilo.

“Mukhang nakalista sa tubig ang pangakong bababa ang presyo ng baboy. Kaya naman sa pagbukas ulit ng Kongreso, ibabalik ko ang panukalang itaas ulit sa original rate ang taripa,” the Senator said.

Based on the report, the lowering of the tariff for the pork imports since April resulted to over P1.3 billion loss in taxes to the government. The E.O. coverage is for one (1) year and the estimated total loss is around Php 11.2 billion. The Senator stressed that the amount may be a big help to the local hog industry that was hit by the ASF.

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