FILE –Meat vendors in Commonwealth Market, Quezon City on February 9, 2021. Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez, Agriculture Secretary William Dar, MMDA Chairman Benjamin Abalos, Jr., and Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte visited the public market for an inspection. – INQUIRER/GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE
MANILA, Philippines – The suggested retail price (SRP) on imported pork products is set to be announced next week, Agriculture Secretary William Dar said Saturday.
Dar said the Department of Agriculture is working with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in making the calculations for the SRP on imported pork products.
“We are now making the calculations and we are doing this in partnership with the DTI, so baka next week i-announce po namin yung suggested retail price,” he said during the Laging Handa Public Briefing.
(We are now making the calculations and we are doing this in partnership with the DTI, so maybe next week we will announce the suggested retail price.)
He added that the computation for the SRP is based on the tariffs imposed by the national government.
On April 7, President Rodrigo Duterte signed Executive Order 128 which temporarily reduced tariff rates on fresh, chilled, or frozen meat to address the shortage in pork supply and stabilize the prices of pork meats.
But the Senate, sitting as the Committee of the Whole, urged President Duterte to withdraw his executive order lowering tariffs on imported pork and to recall his recommendation to increase the importation of pork to the country.
Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Wednesday said EO 128 will be amended after reaching a compromise with the government’s economic managers on policies concerning pork importation.