A group of farmers has threatened not to support re-electionist senators if they will not junk the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), a mega trade deal. In a statement, the Federation of Free Farmers (FFF) urged the Senate to reject the RCEP trade agreement when it is presented fo
Published April 27, 2021, 3:39 PM
The temporary reduction in pork import tariffs will slash the government’s revenue haul this year, but the Department of Finance (DOF) said these losses are necessary to ease the burden on consumers already reeling from the economic impact of the pandemic.
Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III (Photo credit: https://www.dof.gov.ph/about/secretarys-page/)
During the Senate inquiry into the current pork supply shortfall on Tuesday, April 27, Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez defended the President’s directive allowing more pork imports at lower tariffs for a temporary period.
Dominguez, a former agriculture secretary, said that lowering the tariffs is “a painful solution” to tame skyrocketing pork prices as the government stands to lose P13.68 billion from this intervention.
( Manila Bulletin / File / Keith Bacongco)
Drilon said members of the legislative branch should be given the chance to deliberate and act on the recommendation to increase the pork import volumes.
He maintained that under the law, Congress is “where the power to set import quotas lies”.
“To implement it without waiting for Congress to resume session and deliberate on the proposal is illegal, not to mention it is a total disrespect to a co-equal branch,” Drilon asserted in his statement on Tuesday, April 20.
Such legal issue, he said on Wednesday, could be brought to the Supreme Court (SC) should the executive department insist on raising the MAV without their approval.
No increase in MAV until Congress resumes session - Drilon
The Department of Agriculture (DA) cannot raise the minimum access volume (MAV) on pork imports just yet as Congress needs to act on the proposal when it resumes session next month, Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon asserted on Tuesday. In keeping with the spirit of the law, the Congress, where the power to set import quotas lies, should be given the chance to act on the proposal to increase the minimum access volume on pork imports, Drilon said. To implement it without waiting for Congress to resume session and deliberate on the proposal is illegal, not to mention it is a total disrespect to a co-equal branch, Drilon stressed.
Press Release
Senate COW adopts resolution urging Duterte to recall botcha policies on pork importation The two policies can potentially spell the demise of our local hog industry, says Drilon, author of the resolution
As local hog raisers cry for help and fear that imported pork will flood the market soon, the Senate Committee of the Whole adopted today a resolution authored by Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon urging the President to withdraw Executive Order No. 128, which provides for the temporary modification of the rates of import duty for fresh, chilled or frozen meat of swine, and to recall the recommendation to increase the Minimum Access Volume of pork.