Gov’t mulls subsidy for hog raisers

The government is considering providing more support to commercial hog raisers through an insurance subsidy amid the shortage of pork in the country, Malacañang said on Tuesday.

Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said officials were studying the provision of a 50 percent insurance subsidy for commercial hog raisers.

If approved, the subsidy would come from the quick response fund of the Department of Agriculture (DA), he said.

“This is just one initiative being considered to help our hog farmers increase supplies,” he told a press briefing.

The pork shortage, attributed to the African swine fever, was tackled in a Cabinet meeting on Monday.

The depleted supply had driven up pork prices, prompting the President to impose price ceilings on pork and chicken in Metro Manila for 60 days.

The government has offered transport assistance as well as financial assistance to hog raisers to solve the shortage in Metro Manila.

It is also undertaking programs to improve local production and keeping tabs on the spread of African swine fever.

Another option is the importation of more pork.

But cheaper pork imports that could plug the current shortfall may not arrive until the end of June as legal roadblocks forbid President Duterte to sign the order that would allow it.

Global meat prices rising

This has prompted local hog raisers to question the proposed reform given the expected delay, and has sent jitters to importers as global meat prices are rising.

An executive order that would expand the country’s pork imports with a lower tariff rate is currently on Mr. Duterte’s desk.

Agriculture Secretary William Dar said the order was already approved “in principle,” but this cannot be signed while the legislature is in session.

Under the Tariff and Customs Code, the President may only revise tariff laws during congressional breaks or suspensions. Otherwise, it would be up to Congress to pass a bill that could revise tariff rates and import allocations.

The congressional break is set to begin on March 27, while importers would need 60 to 90 days to order and ship pork, depending on the country of origin. This means the earliest arrival of shipments may not happen until June.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque earlier announced that the country’s pork shortfall might hit 400,000 metric tons this year.

For now, the DA has been subsidizing hog raisers and traders to bring affordable pork to the market. INQ