THE Department of Agriculture is eyeing to implement quantitative restrictions on imported pork, likely by the first week of November, to protect local hog raisers.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the existing safeguard duties allow import volumes to surge by 25 percent, but pork imports grew by only 6 to 7 percent year on year.
“The trigger point is that importation should reach plus 25 percent. Unfortunately, it hasn’t reached (that level) yet. The increase of imports from last year to this year is 6 percent, almost 7 percent. So the 25 percent trigger point hindi marereach eh, so we’re thinking of a new way around it,” Tiu Laurel told reporters at the sidelines of the Tuesday Club Breakfast Forum on Tuesday.
With this, Tiu Laurel eyes to impose quantitative restrictions on imported pork cuts on the first week of November.
“From my analysis personally, that by the first week of November, I might be able to restrict, to have quantitative restrictions on pork imports or issues of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Import Clearances (SPSICs) that time,” he added.
The secretary said he is looking to impose quantitative restrictions on pork like liempo (pork belly), kasim (pork shoulder), pork jowls, and whole pig.
“What I’m thinking of is a total stop of several pork cuts for a minimum of 30 days, maximum of 60 days [on] issuance of SPSICs because you cannot stop the one that has already been paid; it destroys business,” he said.
Tiu Laurel assured that the pork supply in the country remains sufficient despite the agency’s planned restrictions.
“We have 170 days of [pork] stocks in our country,” he said.
The DA earlier issued a notice that it will investigate preliminary safeguard measures on imported pork to assess whether higher tariffs or import curbs are needed to protect local producers.
Under Safeguard Measures Case 02-2026, signed by Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. on Oct. 9, 2026, the agency said an initial review by the DA Trade Remedies Office, based on data from the Philippine Statistics Authority and the Bureau of Customs, found prima facie evidence that the surge in foreign pork shipments is hurting local producers.
Based on the preliminary evaluation, the notice said there is a direct link between the recent, sharp and sustained increase in pork imports and the difficulties faced by domestic hog raisers. This is shown in lower farmgate prices and farm incomes, reduced market share for local pork, lower self-sufficiency, higher import volumes, and growing commercial pork stocks nationwide.
According to the latest data from the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), the Philippines’ meat imports reached 1.14 billion kilograms from January to August, with pork imports accounting for more than half of the shipments during the period, where they reached 602.65 million kilograms, a 5.18 percent jump from 573.09 million kilograms last year.
