By ANGELA CELIS and JED MACAPAGAL
As the country continues to recover from the effects of the African swine fever (ASF) to the local hog industry, pork imports have significantly increased over the past months.
More public markets are now offering imported meat at more affordable prices.
Pork imports spiked from April to early June, following the issuance of executive orders (EOs) slashing tariffs on incoming swine meat shipments and increasing the allowable import volumes for a temporary period to help stabilize the domestic supply and prices.
According to the Department of Finance (DOF), the Bureau of Customs (BOC) reported pork imports of 76 million kilograms (kg) between April 9 and June 11, which accounted for 69 percent of the 110 million kg of swine meat brought into the country from January 1 to June 11.
Rey Leonardo Guerrero, customs commissioner, said importers brought in 24.45 million kg of pork in April, another 36.5 million kg in May and 15.14 million kg from June 1 to 11.
The April 2021 shipments were 500 percent more than the April imports last year of 4.07 million kg, while those for May 2021 were 506 percent higher than the imports in the same month in 2020 of 6.02 million kg, Guerrero said.
“For the period April 9 to June 11, 2021, the BOC posted a total collection of P846.96 million. We estimated the revenue losses from EOs 128 and 134 to have reached P1.356 billion for this period,” Guerrero said.
Data from the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) showed from January to May this year, the imported pork reached 216 million kg, almost 147 percent higher than 2020’s 87.52 million kg.
The figure comprised both imports that are within the minimum access volume (MAV) and those outside it.
According to the Department of Agriculture (DA), 8 of the 11 public markets in Metro Manila that it monitors are already selling frozen pork products: New Las Pinas City Public Market, Guadalupe Public Market, Marikina Public Market, Pamilihang Lungsod ng Muntinlupa, Pasay City Market, Pasig City Mega Market, Commonwealth Market and Mega Q Mart.
DA data showed as of yesterday (July 6), prevailing prices in Las Pinas public market are at P340 per kg for local kasim and t P370 per kg for liempo compared with their frozen counterparts at P255 per kg and P260 per kg, respectively. In Muntinlupa Public Market, local kasim is at P320 per kg while liempo is at P340 per kg while frozen is at P225 per kg and P290 per kg, respectively.
Mega Q Market sells kasim at P330 per kg and liempo, P380 per kg. Imports are at at P250 per kg and P290 per kg, respectively.
Revenue losses from lower pork import tariffs are expected to reach P11.2 billion this year under EO 134 which slashed import duties and raised the MAV import quota to pull down the retail prices of pork products, which have soared this year following a major supply shortage triggered by the outbreak of the Asian swine fever.
Citing estimates by the National Economic and Development Authority, the DOF said the projected savings of P50.1 billion to be gained by consumers from lower pork prices and the subsequent easing of inflationary pressures far outweigh the state revenue loss from the temporary tariff cuts.
EO 128, which lowered pork import tariffs to five percent within its MAV and 15 percent outside MAV for the first three months was in effect from April 7 to May 14.
EO 134, which superseded EO 128, set tariffs on pork imports under the MAV to 10 percent for the first three months, and 15 percent in the next nine months.
For imports outside the MAV, the tariffs are 20 percent for the first three months and 25 percent in the succeeding nine months.
The one-year effectivity of EO 134 began on May 15, 2021.
EO 133 raised the MAV on pork imports in 2021 from 54,210 metric tons (MT) to 254,210 MT.
The DA meanwhile assured Taal Lake fisherfolk, Batangas farmers and their families that the agency is ready to help in the event Taal Volcano erupts again.
DA Secretary William Dar said that “pro-active and immediate action plans and strategies” are being laid out as the Taal volcano eruption last year caused a total of P3.4 billion worth of damage to infrastructure, agriculture, fishery and livestock sector in Batangas, Laguna and Cavite.
Sammy Malvas, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources regional director for Calabarzon, said that so far, 6,375 cage structures for milkfish and tilapia production, owned and maintained by 5,100 fishers may be directly affected in case Taal Volcano erupts.
Malvas said consumption of fish from Taal Lake is safe as long as they are fresh and alive and cleaned and cooked properly.
Dar said there should be no price increase in fishes as average prices of tilapia and bangus are stable at P120 and P160 per kg, respectively.
The DA is proposing a P282 million budget for immediate assistance, and rehabilitation and recovery initiatives.
