THE Department of Agriculture (DA) said the government could import up to 150,000 metric tons (MT) of pork under an expanded minimum access volume (MAV) scheme — but only if retail prices rise sharply again.
Last year, the price increase ranged from P450 to P490 per kilo, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. told reporters last week.
Latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed the average retail price of fresh pork kasim dropped to P339.43/kg nationwide in early July, from P342.14/kg and P342.48/kg in the second and first half of June, respectively.
The MAV is a tariff quota system that allows a set volume of agricultural imports to enter the country at a lower tariff rate.
Tiu Laurel compared the mechanism to a fuel price trigger, saying a sustained spike — such as crude oil holding at $80 a barrel for a month — would signal an emergency requiring intervention.
Under Executive Order (EO) 116, signed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. through Executive Secretary Ralph Recto on May 19, the pork MAV was raised to 204,210 MT from 54,210 MT to shore up supply and temper prices amid losses from African swine fever (ASF).
Days after the EO signing, the DA was tasked with leading the drafting of the IRR to stabilize pork supply and prices without undermining the long-term competitiveness of the local hog industry.
Of the total volume of 150,000 MT, the MAV Management Committee will allocate 120,000 MT to the Food Terminal Inc. (FTI) and the Kadiwa ng Pangulo program, and 30,000 MT to meat processors.
The specific price thresholds and other details will be released soon, said the DA.
