DA eyes imports of more goods

The Department of Agriculture is looking to import more food items to stabilize market prices, fearing that local prices may rise further with the coming so-called ‘ber’ months when demand spikes.

Speaking with reporters on Monday, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said he was set to meet with representatives of the poultry, livestock and fish industries on Friday to study whether importation is the best way to address rising food prices.

“In our effort to support the government’s move to make food available, we are going to review whether it’s the right time now to allow the entry of additional imports under the MAV (minimum access volume),” he said.

MAV refers to the volume of agricultural products allowed to be imported by the Philippines at a lower import duty as part of its commitment to the World Trade Organization.

To increase the country’s import volume under MAV, the agency will need to ask the Office of the President to order Congress to approve the request.

As for chicken, the secretary will only need to suspend the special safeguard (SSG) duties imposed on the commodity and call for a special importation.

According to Piñol, the agency is looking to import pork, chicken and round scad (galunggong) “as soon as possible,” as prices of these commodities have been on the rise.

Elevated food prices have contributed to the acceleration of the country’s inflation rate, which hit 5.2 percent—the highest in five years—in June.

“Our worry is that as we approach ‘ber’ months, there would be limited supply and prices will spike. If we allow the importation, we expect prices to stabilize. Of course, this will have to go through consultation,” he said.

Piñol added that the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) described the current supply-and-demand situation for pork as “critical,” noting that the country’s supply of the commodity is almost equal to demand. —KARL R. OCAMPO