The Pork Producers Federation of the Philippines Inc. (ProPork) stressed that lowering tariffs to control pork prices amid rising commodity costs driven by the fuel crisis would be “unnecessary and ineffective.”
“We simply oppose further reduction of the import tariff for pork and chicken products as it will have a disastrous effect on local production that would weaken Philippine food security amid the Middle East crisis,” ProPork said in a statement released on April 14.
The statement was issued in response to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Tariff Commission to explore lowering tariffs on imported agricultural goods amid rising commodity prices driven by high fuel costs.
The group, however, maintained that they continue to trust in the leadership of President Marcos Jr. especially in advancing policies that protect both the agricultural sector and the Filipino people.
No tangible deliverables
Past tariff reductions failed to deliver tangible benefits to consumers, as they did not lead to meaningful declines in retail prices. Instead, they only resulted in lost government revenues.
“It (lowering tariffs) would undermine our country’s food security by increasing our dependence on imports, weaken local producers already burdened by high production costs, and expose the market to oversupply and dumping risks,” ProPork said.
At present, the federation said the country has an adequate supply of pork from both local production and existing import volumes, while farmgate prices remain reasonable and stable.
Government support
Instead of reducing tariffs, the federation suggested that the government adopt targeted interventions that directly support the local industry.
One such measure is providing subsidies to pork producers—not middlemen—particularly for the transport and logistics of live hogs. The allocation, it said, should be based on the volume of pigs brought to market.
The government should also extend support to address rising feed input costs driven by high fuel prices.
ProPork pointed out that the spike in retail prices is not due to farmgate prices, which remain within an acceptable range, but to elevated logistics costs in transporting pork from farms to retail markets.
The group also proposed imposing a cap on pork imports of up to 500,000 metric tons to prevent oversupply and protect the local industry.
Fresh relief goods
ProPork said the government should implement a procurement program under which fresh food items—such as pork, chicken, beef, eggs, fish, fruits, and vegetables—are directly sourced from local producers and distributed as food assistance to vulnerable communities, instead of canned goods and instant noodles.
The group also emphasized the weakening purchasing power of households due to rising commodity prices driven by soaring fuel costs amid tensions in the Middle East.
The group said farmers continue to struggle to sell their produce amid high fuel and LPG costs.
Some public utility drivers have stopped operating, making it more difficult to transport farmers’ products to markets.
To address these challenges, ProPork called for strong, targeted interventions that support local production, stabilize markets, and secure the nation’s food supply, instead of reducing tariffs.
“The government must step in decisively to remedy and balance the market—ensuring that producers can sell their goods while consumers can access affordable food,” the group said. —Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
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