THE SUPPLY and prices of fish sold in the so-called “NCR plus” quarantine area, consisting of the National Capital Region and Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, and Bulacan provinces, have stabilized, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said.

Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar said in a statement Tuesday that the normalization of the fish market coincides with the peak season at the country’s main marine fishing grounds.

“(Between) April 8 and 14, total volume of marine fish catch unloaded at the Navotas Fish Port Complex amounted to 3,760 metric tons (MT), 200 MT more than the previous week,” Mr. Dar said.

Mr. Dar said 2,280 MT consisted of galunggong, (round scad) while the remainder consisted of species known by their local names such as turay, tulingan, tunsoy, tamban, pusit (squid), matambaka, gulyasan, dalagang bukid (yellowtail fusilier), and shrimp.

He said these fish were sourced from Eastern and Northern Palawan, the Zamboanga Peninsula, and the Visayan Sea.

“Supply of bangus (milkfish) and tilapia were also abundant from fish pens and fishponds of Bulacan, Pangasinan, Taal Lake in Batangas, and Laguna de Bay,” Mr. Dar said.

Mr. Dar said the prevailing retail prices of in-demand fishery products were stable in most public markets in Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

He added that the price of galunggong ranged from P180 to P240 per kilogram, tilapia P120 to P130, and bangus P180.

“These were an improvement compared to prices during the latter part of 2020 and first quarter of 2021, when prices of galunggong were as high as P300 per kilogram, bangus P220 per kilogram, and tilapia P160 per kilogram,” Mr. Dar said.

“In the months ahead, we will continue to make fishery products and food, in general, accessible and affordable to all consumers, particularly in the ‘NCR plus’ area and in other urban communities, where the threat of hunger looms,” he added.

At a virtual briefing on Tuesday, Agriculture Undersecretary Cheryl Marie Natividad-Caballero said the DA continues to provide support and assistance to keep fishermen safe all over the country, especially in the West Philippine Sea.

Ms. Natividad-Caballero said the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources is conducting patrols with the help of the Philippine Coast Guard and the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea.

“We continue to strengthen our capability to monitor our commercial fishers as well as those fishers involved in the West Philippine Sea and even in the high seas such as the installation of transponders for better tracking,” Ms. Natividad-Caballero said.

Recently, Chinese ships have been sighted in parts of the Sea which the Philippines claims as part of its exclusive economic zone. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

THE hog raising industry said lowering tariffs on pork imports is not needed to resolve the pork shortage.

Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura Chairman Rosendo O. So said in a mobile phone message that the pork shortage can be addressed even with the previous tariff rates, while still allowing importers to charge P200 to P250 per kilogram.

“Increasing the minimum access volume (MAV) quota and lowering tariffs will only increase the profits of importers at the expense of Filipino consumers who will not benefit from lower pork prices,” Mr. So said.

In an address to the nation late Monday, President Rodrigo R. Duterte said his economic managers are in favor of temporarily lowering import tariffs and raising the MAV quota for pork imports.

He added that Executive Order (EO) No. 128, which lowered the tariffs on pork imports, can be withdrawn once market conditions improve.

“Kapag malakas na ‘yung domestic market and there is movement, we can always withdraw the EO that I signed. Madali naman iyan. (Once the domestic market is stronger and there is movement, we can always withdraw the EO that I signed. That is easy),” Mr. Duterte said.

“It is just a temporary measure to bring down prices,” he added.

Mr. Duterte signed EO 128 on April 7, which set the tariff on pork imports within the MAV quota at 5% in the first three months, increasing to 10% over the following nine months. The tariff for out-of-quota pork imports was set at 15% for the first three months, rising to 20% in the succeeding nine months.

Previously, pork imports within the MAV quota were charged 30% tariffs, while out-of-quota pork imports paid 40%.

Mr. Duterte also recommended that Congress increase the MAV quota by 350,000 metric tons (MT) on top of the current allocation of 54,210 MT, in order to address the estimated pork deficit as estimated by the Department of Agriculture (DA) of 400,000 MT. Hog numbers have dropped because of the African Swine Fever outbreak. 

Edwin G. Chen, president of the Pork Producers Federation of the Philippines, Inc., said in a mobile phone message that the lowering of tariffs will not result in cheaper pork prices.

“The lowering of tariff will not only flood the market with imported pork, but it will also harm the local producers,” Mr. Chen said.

Nicanor M. Briones, Agricultural Sector Alliance of the Philippines, Inc. president, said in a mobile phone message that the pork supply may further deteriorate with more imports as hog raisers will be discouraged from growing their herds.

“Backyard hog raisers and small commercial raisers will be forced to stop their operations. This will worsen the supply situation,” Mr. Briones said.

Meat Importers and Traders Association President Jesus C. Cham said in a mobile phone message that Congress should not object to the EO, adding that the issues affecting the hog industry are separate from the need to lower pork prices.

“The issues should be decoupled — provide affordable pork to consumers and help the hog sector recover,” Mr. Cham said.

“Congress should not object to the EO and they should fund the DA appropriately,” he added.

The President’s spokesman Herminio L. Roque, Jr. said in a virtual briefing Tuesday that the EO is subject to revocation if Congress wants to make changes.

Mr. Roque said that under the Constitution, Mr. Duterte only exercised his authority over tariffs while Congress is not in session.

“Once Congress resumes session and they convene and decide to override the EO, they can do so since that is within their power,” Mr. Roque said.

Resolutions were recently adopted both in the Senate and the House of Representatives seeking either the withdrawal or cancellation of EO 128.

In a separate statement Tuesday, Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III said he recommended the temporary lowering of pork tariffs and increasing import volumes. The same conclusion was reached by the Economic Development Cluster after extensive consultations and deliberations.

Mr. Dominguez said the proposed pork import program will only account for 22.8% of total consumption.

“To allay the fears of our local hog raisers, the MAV Management Committee can also issue additional rules and regulations for the MAV allocation to be subject to a quarterly review as an additional measure to avoid imported pork flooding the market and depressing local prices below profitable levels,” Mr. Dominguez said.

Meanwhile, the Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) is increasing its loan support to pork producers and feed millers to P30 billion, from the original P15 billion, to assist in repopulation efforts and keep millers afloat.

The bank is expanding its loan window for hog raisers after a directive from Mr. Dominguez to double its support to the industry.

“LANDBANK is doubling its funds available for financing swine repopulation, feed milling operations and facility upgrades in order to help address at the soonest the supply shortfalls and subsequent retail price spirals affecting both hog producers and pork consumers,” Mr. Dominguez said. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave