Quimbo seeks authority for president to directly buy pork during emergencies

Marikina City Representative Stella Quimbo has filed a bill which will authorize the president to directly procure pork meat that will be sold in the market during times of emergency.

Under House Bill 9256, the president of the Philippines will be granted the power to buy pork directly by either importing or purchasing from local suppliers of pork meat in times of emergency or calamity.

"Allowing government to directly procure meat ensures that any tariff reduction will translate to lower pork prices in the market as government becomes the source of competition for importers," Quimbo said in the bill.

"Similarly, this allows local producers to be insulated from threats of competition while it transitions to more efficient production methods and better protection against ASF (African swine fever)," she added.

Quimbo, an economist, noted that "with the government acting as 'middle man,' it can ensure that pork is bought from local hog raisers at a reasonable price, then sold at a retail price that is competitive with imports."

"In effect, (the) government provides a price support to local producers during the crisis, while also ensuring consumers can buy pork at the lowest possible prices," she said.

The proposed measure further seeks the creation of a Swine Competitiveness Enhancement Fund, which will be sourced from all tariff revenues collected from pork imports.

"Gagamitin ang SCEF para palakasin ang local hog industry. Popondohan nito ang bakuna kontra ASF, subsidies para sa transportation ng pork meat, development programs, pautang sa mga hog raisers, at insurance," she said.

(The SCEF will be used to empower the local hog industry. This will fund the vaccine against ASF, subsidies for the transportation of pork meat, development programs, as well as loans and insurance for hog raisers.)

Quimbo also said the bill wants stricter penalties against smugglers of pork meat.

She added that the measure proposes that "import permits shall be deemed approved if an agency fails to act on the same within the prescribed period."

At present, the Philippines is experiencing supply problems and high prices of pork meat in markets.

To address the issue, President Rodrigo Duterte has reduced the tariff rates for imported pork meat to 5% to 20% from 30% to 40% for a year.

Duterte's directive was opposed by lawmakers as they fear that this will adversely affect the local hog industry.—LDF, GMA News