Lawmaker says PH has ‘huge’ pork surplus, hits import tariff cut

(INQUIRER file photo / GRIG C.MONTEGRANDE)

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Panfilo Lacson on Monday questioned the justification used by the Department of Agriculture (DA) in increasing the amount of pork allowed to be imported to the Philippines when government data shows that the country has a huge pork surplus.

“[May] surplus tayo na malaki e. Anong sinasabi nilang shortage, para ma-justify lang na makapag-import. E ‘pag nakapag-import, anong laban ng ating mga lokal na hog industry?” Lacson said in an interview over Teleradyo.

(We have a huge surplus. What shortage are they talking about? Just to justify the need for importation. How could our local hog industry compete with imports?)

“Ang surplus natin on the average for three years, every year, ang surplus natin 400 million kilos,” he added.

(Our surplus, on the average for three years every year, is 400 million kilos.)

Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson (Alex Nueva España/Senate PRIB)

Lacson said this ahead of the Senate’s investigation into the food security crisis brought about by the African swine fever (ASF) outbreak as well as the alleged “tongpats” scheme in pork importation.

Citing government data, the senator said “there is no shortage” of pork in the country in the last three years.

“Ito hindi maitatanggi galing sa gobyerno yung datos. Official ito. Yung mula noong 2018 hanggang 2020—wala pa yung 2021—wala tayong shortage. Hindi maintindihan kung saan manggagaling yung shortage, maski may ASF pa,  wala pa ring shortage,” he added.

(This can’t be denied. This data is from the government. It’s official. From 2018 to 2020—there’s no data available for 2021 yet—there is no shortage. I can’t understand where this shortage is coming from. Even amid the ASF, there’s no shortage.)

President Rodrigo Duterte last week signed Executive Order No. 128 temporarily reducing tariffs on pork imports in a bid to resolve the country’s undersupply of pork.

Additionally, the President also recently recommended, in a letter to Congress, an increase in MAV by 350,000 metric tons in addition to the current 54,210.

Following opposition from senators and local hog raisers alike, DA Secretary William Dar defended the cut in tariff rates for pork imports, saying it is only meant to solve the problems caused by the ASF outbreak.

He added that the ASF outbreak has caused a supply shortage that led to price increases that the pork importation program is meant to address.

gsg