LOCAL hog industry groups are urging the government to immediately restore higher tariffs on imported pork, saying falling farmgate prices and rising production costs are leaving farmers with mounting losses.
At a media briefing on Friday, the Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (Sinag), National Federation of Hog Farmers Inc., United Batangas Swine Raisers Inc. and other groups called for tariffs of 30 percent for imports within the minimum access volume and 40 percent for shipments outside that quota.
They opposed the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) proposal to restore the rates gradually, from the current 15 percent for in-quota imports and 25 percent for out-quota shipments, to 25 percent and 35 percent in January 2027, then 30 percent and 40 percent in 2028.
“We are asking the President to increase the pork tariffs to 30-40 percent immediately,” Sinag chairman Rosendo So said.
The groups said farmgate prices had fallen to P90 to P120 per kilogram (kg), while feed and other production costs continued to rise. Farmers are losing P50 to P90/kg, or about P5,000 to P9,000 per hog, they said.
They also sought a temporary suspension of additional pork imports until the industry recovers and a temporary ban on the release of frozen imported pork from cold storage facilities.
Other demands included stronger quarantine, inspection and food safety controls, along with timely weekly updates of import reference values.
In a separate interview on Thursday, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said he favored an immediate tariff increase, but could not decide on it alone.
“Based on the data I see, I really want to raise the tariffs,” he told reporters at the 3rd Kadiwa ng Pangulo Expo in Pasay City. He said the decision required agreement between the DA and the national government.
Bureau of Animal Industry data showed meat imports reached 1.14 billion kilograms from January to August. Pork accounted for more than half, at 602.65 million kg, up 5.18 percent from 573.09 million kg a year earlier.
