Gov't to increase pork imports if prices surge — DA

The government will increase pork imports under the expanded minimum access volume (MAV) only if average pork prices climb to around P430 to P450 per kilo, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said Monday.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the additional import volume under the so-called “MAV Plus” would be triggered only when pork prices reach certain levels.

“Sa ngayon, yung sa MAV Plus na 'yun, technically it will only be triggered if tumaas ulit ang presyo ng baboy. Let's say, tulad nung last year umabot ng P450... umabot ng P490,” Tiu Laurel told reporters.

(Right now, regarding MAV Plus, technically it will only be triggered if pork prices go up again. Let's say, like last year when they reached P450... even P490.)

“So iti-trigger 'yun kapag umakyat ulit nang ganun. Mag-i-import tayo para i-tame yung presyo. But it doesn't mean na tuloy-tuloy 'yan,” he added.

(So it will be triggered if prices climb to those levels again. We will import to tame prices. But it doesn't mean imports will continue indefinitely.)

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed Executive Order No. 116 in May, raising the MAV for pork imports to 204,210 metric tons (MT) from 54,210 MT purportedly to boost supply and help stabilize retail prices as the country continues to grapple with the effects of African swine fever (ASF) on the local hog industry.

Of the additional 150,000 MT under the expanded MAV:

• 30,000 MT will be allocated to processors
• 120,000 MT will be managed by Food Terminal Inc. (FTI) for distribution through the Kadiwa ng Pangulo program.

The DA said the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) for the expanded MAV would be released soon.

“It's basically... a trigger point system at a certain price based on average,” Tiu Laurel said.

Under the regular MAV, the FTI is allotted 20%, he said.

“FTI will have the allocation, but they will just manage the allocation. We developed a program that we tested last year which worked,” Tiu Laurel said.

The DA earlier said it would consult hog raisers, meat processors, and lawmakers in crafting the IRR for EO No. 116 amid concerns that higher pork imports could hurt local producers already struggling with elevated feed, fuel, and biosecurity costs.— MCG, GMA News