Senate OKs reso calling probe into food security crisis, ‘tongpats’ on pork imports

The Senate on Wednesday adopted a resolution calling on the Committee of the Whole to conduct an investigation into the food security crisis in the country brought about by the African swine fever (ASF) problem.

During the resumption of its session, the chamber adopted Senate Resolution 685, which also urges the Committee of the Whole to look into allegations of "tongpats," or padded costs on pork imports from which unscrupulous individuals within the Department of Agriculture (DA) could earn at least P6 billion.

The resolution stemmed from the information received by Senator Panfilo Lacson, author of the measure, from "high-placed" officials within the department that there is "tongpats" of P5 to P7 per kilo of pork import prevailing at the current importation setup.

He said the padded costs may significantly increase if the tariffs on pork imports are reduced and the MAV allocation is increased, as proposed by the DA.

"If there is really truth to the report that I received that P5 to P7 per kilogram of pork, if the volume is increased to 400,000 MT and the so-called tongpats will double up, that would translate to P6 billion at P15 per kilogram," Lacson said.

"In fact the source that gave me the information even assumed that P20 would be the amount that he estimates if we increase the volume to 400,000 MT at a lower tariff rate of 5%. As it is now, the importers are already having good margins of profit. If we lower the tariff rates and at the same time increase the volume, you can just imagine," he added.

Lacson likewise questioned the sudden reshuffle of officials within the DA, particularly the transfer of former Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) director Ronnie Domingo to the Philippine Carabao Center.

The senator claimed that it was during the leadership of Domingo at the BAI when phytosanitary permits were supposedly still issued, allowing pork imports from ASF-infected countries like Belgium, Hungary, Germany, and China to come in.

This, even as then-Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol had issued several memorandum orders as early as 2018 to not allow the entry of pork imports from these countries.

"We would like to find out from [Agriculture] Secretary [William] Dar what triggered the sudden reshuffle," Lacson said.

Lacson maintained that the Committee of the Whole should handle the probe, not just a specific committee at the Senate.

"The issues involved go beyond the jurisdiction of the Committee on Agriculture simply because it involves possible forgone revenues. That should be addressed by the Committee on Ways and Means," he said.

"And then there's the issue of corruption that should be addressed by the blue ribbon committee. There's the issue of health that should be addressed by the Committee on Health. That's the reason why I deemed it wise to request the body to have it referred to the Committee of the Whole," he added.

Dar has already ordered an investigation into Lacson's allegations.

He also said that his reason for doing reshuffles within the DA is to make reforms in the department. — BM, GMA News