Duterte favors increase in MAV for pork imports by 350,000 MT

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has recommended increasing the minimum amount of pork to be imported under the minimum access volume (MAV) to augment supply in the local market, Malacañang said Friday.

Duterte has endorsed increasing the MAV by 350,000 metric tons (MT), in addition to the current 54,210, according to presidential spokesman Harry Roque, in a letter to Congress.

“This is to immediately augment the supply of pork, stabilize increasing prices, and address the pressing issues on food security,” Roque said in a statement.

Raising the MAV is among the recommendations of the Department of Agriculture (DA) to address the shortage of pork supply in Metro Manila due to the African swine fever (ASF).

MAV refers to the quantity of a specific agricultural product that may be imported with a lower tariff. It is part of the commitment of the Philippines to the World Trade Organization (WTO) to facilitate trade between countries.

The MAV is imposed on imported agricultural products to help countries that rely on agriculture and protect their agricultural workers.

To also ensure sufficient supply of pork, DA proposed the declaration of a state of national emergency to stop the spread of ASF through the implementation of biosecurity measures and appropriation of funds.

KGA