Published April 8, 2021, 6:01 PM
Senator Imee Marcos on Thursday, April 8, blamed the Department of Agriculture (DA) for supposedly crippling the government’s ability to raise the much-needed revenues to cope with the double onslaught of the African Swine Fever (ASF) and the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Senator Imee R. Marcos
(Senate of the Philippines / FILE PHOTO)
Marcos, chairperson of the Senate economic affairs committee, accused the DA of giving President Duterte “questionable advice” that led to his signing Executive Order (EO) 128, which lowers tariffs on imported pork products in attempt to reverse a supply shortage caused by the ASF.
“Aren’t we looking for more funding? Where is the much touted whole-of-government approach? We just threw away P11.5 billion of ayuda’ (aid), vaccines, PPEs (personal protective equipment) and ditched local hog raisers, all in one fell swoop,” Marcos said in a statement.