3 senators to file joint reso seeking revocation of EO reducing tariffs on pork imports

Three senators are set to file a joint resolution seeking the revocation of President Rodrigo Duterte's executive order reducing the tariff rate for pork imports, maintaining that it will negatively impact the local hog industry.

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon on Tuesday said he, along with Senate agriculture panel chair Cynthia Villar and Senator Francis Pangilinan, will be filing a joint resolution to revoke Executive Order (EO) 128, which the President issued last week.

The said order provides for the reduction of the tariff rates for imported pork meat to 5% to 20% from 30% to 40% for a year "to address pork supply shortage, stabilize prices of pork meat, and minimize inflation rates" amid the outbreak of African swine fever (ASF).

“By law, the authority of the President to fix tariff rates while Congress is not in session can be withdrawn or revoked by virtue of a joint resolution,” Drilon said in a statement.

He cited Section 1608(f) of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, which was the basis for the issuance of the EO, providing that “the power herein delegated to the President may be withdrawn or terminated by Congress through a joint resolution.”

“EO 128 will kill the local hog industry, not the African Swine Fever or ASF. The irrational and drastic decision to increase the minimum access volume or MAV serves as a final ‘nail in the coffin’ of the local hog industry,” Drilon said.

“Our local hog raisers suffered a double blow in the last two weeks and it is the duty of Congress to stand up for them. Hindi kaya ng maliliit nating hog raisers ang laban sa mga malalaking (Our small-time hog raisers cannot go head-to-head with big-time) importers of meat products,” he added.

Under EO 128, the tariff rate for  imported pork meat within quota or minimum access MAV—whether fresh, chilled or frozen—will be pegged at 5% for the first three months upon the EO’s effectivity and 10% for the fourth to 12 months.

The tariff rate for imported meat outside of the MAV, however, has been set to 15% for the first three months upon the EO’s effectivity and 20% for the fourth to the 12th months.

The existing 30% to 40% tariff rate for imported pork will be restored after the 12th month.

Drilon said the drastic decrease in pork import tariffs could result in billions of pesos in government revenue losses.

He added that the Department of Agriculture's move to recommend the lowering of tariff rates disregarded the livelihood of local hog raisers in the country.

During the Senate Committee of the Whole hearing on Monday, Drilon also questioned the timing of the President's March recommendation for an increase in the minimum access volume (MAV) of pork imports.

He said that the proposal to increase the MAV to 350,000 metric tons from 54,000 metric tons was submitted only on March 26, the last day of Congress' session.

Drilon cited Section 6 of the Agricultural Tariffication Act, which states that "in cases of shortages or abnormal price increases in agricultural products, whose quantitative restrictions are lifted under this Act, the President may propose to Congress, revisions, modifications or adjustments of the Minimum Access Volume."

This, however, comes with the provision "that in the event Congress fails to act after 15 days from receipt of the proposal, the same shall be deemed approved."

Drilon maintained that the authority to revise, modify, or adjust the MAV falls within the powers of Congress.

He said the proposal should have been submitted while Congress was in session, and that the President could have asked for a special session to discuss it.—AOL, GMA News