Pork prices might increase, says industry group

Pork prices could go up, the Meat Importers and Traders Association (MITA) said Wednesday, following reported changes made by the Department of Agriculture regarding quotas and the minimum access volume.

In a letter addressed to the department, MITA expressed its concerns over these changes, such as the decision to limit the meat traders' share to 40 percent of the MAV, while processors get 60 percent.

As defined by the DA, the MAV is the quantity of an agricultural product allowed entry into the Philippines at the in-quota tariff rate, or the lower rate of custom duty applied to the product.

"'Yung mga maliliit na quota owners halos wala nang quota," said MITA president emeritus Jess Cham. "Siyempre pag kulang ang stock, siyempre tataas ang presyo. So unang una, kukulangin ang stock. Pangalawa, ang stock na mawawala 'yung mga mas mura na puhunan. So lahat ng parating mas mataas ang puhunan."

The group is asking DA to revert to previous guidelines and called for a consultation before implementing any changes.

The Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG), however, believes there is no reason for pork prices to go up. Executive director Jayson Cainglet said the commitment of the Philippines to the World Trade Organization is to import  54,000 metric tons at 35 percent tariff. However, the country is importing ten times as much or over 500,000 MT at a lower tariff rate of 25 percent.

"Parang tinatakot na naman ang tao, sasabihin tataas ang presyo when in fact 'yun naman ang tariff na nila dati pa eh," he said. "Three years ago na eh, mababa na. So kung talagang bababa ang presyo matagal na dapat bumaba ang presyo because of tariff reduction." — BM, GMA Integrated News