Duterte: Easy to revoke pork tariff EO once domestic supply improves

MANILA, Philippines—President Rodrigo Duterte said it would be easy to revoke his executive order reducing tariff on imported pork once domestic supply improved.

Senators are urging Duterte to recall Executive Order (EO) No. 128 which lowers tariff on imported pork, saying a flood of imported pork could kill the local hog industry.

“Once the domestic market becomes stronger and there is a movement, it’s easy, we can always withdraw the EO that I signed, that’s easy. It’s just a temporary measure to bring down the prices,” said Duterte in his address to the nation on Monday.

The President said while he understood the senators’ concern, his economic managers were “really in favor” of reducing tariff on imported pork as an anti-inflation measure.

“I can understand from where the senators come from. There’s also the domestic supply which they intend to protect. They are vehement about it,” Duterte said.

“The problem is my managers, those in finance, I’d like to mention Secretary Dar, Neda and maybe Sonny Dominguez are really in favor,” he said, referring to Agriculture Secretary William Dar and Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III.

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon earlier said Duterte’s EO could be assailed since it was issued while Congress was on break.

The Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, the basis for EO No. 128, allows the President to increase, reduce or remove existing rates of import duty “while Congress is not in session.”

But the law also says that the power to modify tariff rates “may be withdrawn or terminated by Congress through a joint resolution.”

TSB