Senator Christopher “Bong” Go (File photo)
MANILA –Senator Christopher “Bong” Go expressed his support for President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision to issue Proclamation No. 1143 which declares a state of calamity throughout the Philippines for a maximum of one year due to the African swine fever (ASF) outbreak.
“With the declaration of a state of calamity, mas madaling makapag-impose ng price ceiling kung kailangan at maiwasan ang overpricing ng pork products. Ang mga government financial institutions naman ay maaari rin magbigay ng no-interest loans sa mga producers na apektado ng ASF (With the declaration of a state of calamity, it would be easier to impose a price ceiling if needed to prevent overpricing of pork products. Government financial institutions could give no-interest loans to producers affected by ASF),” he said.
“This is crucial because pwede na gamitin ng DA [Department of Agriculture] and LGUs [local government units] ‘yung (the DA and LGUs can use the) Quick Response Fund [QRF] to address the ASF outbreak,” said Go, the chair of the Senate Committee on Health.
The declaration of a state of calamity was made to supplement the DA’s measures to control the outbreak amidst the continuing spread of ASF in other areas of the country which affected the supply of pork meat.
Notably, the ASF has resulted in the reduction of the country’s swine population by about three million. The local hog sector suffered around PHP100 billion losses, which led to higher prices of pork.
Meanwhile, aside from the declaration of a state of calamity, President Duterte also issued EO No. 133 increasing the minimum access volume (MAV) of pork meat by 200,000 metric tons.
The MAV, which is currently at 54,210 MT, refers to the volume of a specific agricultural product that is allowed to be imported with a lower tariff.
The ASF outbreak has also resulted in a deficit of pork products, prompting the DA to recommend the increase of MAV. Intended as a temporary emergency measure, such an increase is expected to address the supply deficit and stabilize retail prices of pork products. It aims to resolve the supply gap, provide Filipinos with adequate and affordable food during the pandemic, and contribute to lower inflation.
On April 15, the Senate Committee of the Whole adopted a resolution urging the President to, among others, recall the recommendation to increase the MAV of pork products, citing potential adverse effects on the local hog sector.
Eventually reconsidering their prior resolution due to the necessity of lowering prices of pork products, the Senators discussed with the economic managers from the Executive branch led by Department of Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, the need to determine the appropriate level of MAV.
In this regard, Go was instrumental in bridging the executive and legislative branches of the government to arrive at a mutually acceptable MAV quantity.
“Nag-meet halfway ang Senado at ang ating economic managers mula sa Ehekutibo. Mahalaga ito dahil gusto nating mabigyan ng solusyon ang pagtaas ng presyo at kakulangan ng supply habang binabalanse rin ang interes ng local industries (The Senate and our economic managers from the Executive [branch] met halfway. This is important because we want to address the rising prices and the lack of supply while balancing the interest of local industries),” Go said.
“Sa anumang desisyon ng gobyerno, palagi pong binabalanse ng Pangulo ang lahat. Sinisigurado niyang walang maaagrabyado habang patuloy na pinoproteksyunan ang buhay at kabuhayan ng ating mga kababayan (In whatever decision of the government, the President is always balancing all. He makes sure that no one is short-changed while protecting the lives and livelihood of our countrymen),” he added.
Go also reiterated his appeal to Agriculture Secretary William Dar to exert maximum effort in assisting the local hog sector during the effectivity of EO 128 which provides for the temporary lowering of rates of import duty pork.
“As one of the foundations of our country’s food security initiative, our local hog raisers play a crucial role in stabilizing our economy and attaining food security,” he said. (PR)
