May 5, 2021
Although the anti-parasitic drug ivermectin has not yet been proven effective against COVID-19 in animals, the Department of Agriculture (DA) will also evaluate whether it is effective in pigs against African swine fever (ASF).
Special Order No. 310 released by Agriculture Secretary William Dar on April 30 formed the inter-agency research team for the preliminary trial.
According to Agriculture Undersecretary William Medrano, ivermectin has been found in other countries to be effective as a drug against other viral animal diseases.
“There are scientific literatures already na ivermectin, aside from being an effective anti-parasitic, meron din siyang antiviral effects and anti-inflammatory… Ginamit na sa other countries ‘yung ivermectin sa other viral diseases ng livestock,” said Medrano.
Published May 5, 2021, 10:54 AM
Despite a 12-month tariff cut imposed on pork, a group of local meat importers began lobbying for a much longer period wherein the pork import tariff rate is kept at 15 percent from the original 40 percent until 2025.
A customer pays for pork at a roadside market stall in Mandaluyong City, Manila, the Philippines. (Bloomberg file)
In a letter to Senate President Vicente Sotto III, Meat Importers and Traders Association (MITA) President Jesus Cham said the compromise pork import tariff rate of 15 percent is “reasonable” but it should “be incorporated into the upcoming tariff schedule and remain in effect until end-2025.”
Senator Sonny Angara
Recently, the Senate Committee of the Whole (COW), led by Senate President Sotto, conducted two extensive hearings on the African Swine Fever (ASF) which continues to be a perennial threat not only to the local hog industry, but also the country’s food security.
The hearings underscored the seriousness of this other outbreak, as evidenced by the steep rise in the price of pork in public markets (P360-P400 per kilogram in January) due to the lack of supply, which led to the issuance of a price cap; the decline in the total swine inventory of around 24 percent compared to the previous year; and the high number of hog owners and farmers affected in at least 12 regions in the country (68,000).
Pork imports may hit 600M kilos this year as traders take advantage of cheap duties cnnphilippines.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from cnnphilippines.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Press Release
Senate to President Duterte: Withdraw EO lowering tariffs on pork imports
THE Senate on Thursday unanimously adopted a resolution urging President Rodrigo Duterte to withdraw Executive Order (EO) 128 that lowers the tariff on pork imports.
A total of 18 senators manifested their support for the resolution including Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan, who reiterated the call for Malacañang to urgently declare a state of calamity due to the African swine fever (ASF). Declaring a state of calamity is important because we have to free up funds from the calamity fund to provide the necessary support. The Secretary of Agriculture has already said he needs 8.6 billion pesos for 2021 to address the swine fever and he only has 2.6 or 4 billion pesos. Kulang pa. Saan niya kukunin yon? Pangilinan said.