Agriculture Secretary William Dar confirmed that the president’s order to lower tariff rates for frozen meat is already in effect, with it the arrival of pork imports in the country.
In a joint House committees on agriculture and food, and trade and industry hearing, Dar explained that that the Bureau of Animal Industry is already issuing import permits in accordance with President Rodrigo Duterte’s Executive Order 128.
“We would like to assure that the calibrated arrival of said imports will be properly managed and hoping that, our ultimate goal is really that the imports will lower the prices of pork in the market,” Dar said.
The order issued by the chief executive last week effectively reduces tariff rates on pork imports to between five percent and 20 percent, from 30 percent to 40 percent.
Senators had previously adopted a resolution appealing for the withdrawal of the directive that slashed the tariffs on pork imports to address the problems in pork supply due to the African Swine Fever outbreak.
