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The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has reported a spike in pork imports to 76 million kilograms (kg) from April to early June, following the issuance by President Rodrigo Duterte of a series of executive orders (EOs) cutting tariffs on incoming swine meat shipments and increasing the allowable import volumes for a temporary period to help stabilize the domestic supply and prices of pork for the benefit of Filipino consumers.
The BOC said pork imports between April 9 and June 11 for both in-quota and out-quota shipments accounted for 69 percent of the total 110 million kg of swine meat brought into the country from January 1 to June 11.
Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero said importers brought in 24.45 million kg of pork in April, up 500% from April of last year with 4.07 million kg. Another 36.5 million kg was imported in May, up 506% from the 6.02 million kg imported in the same month of 2020. This year from June 1-11, 15.14 million kg was imported.
In-quota or within MAV shipments amounted to 10.46 million kg in April, 10.47 million kg in May, and 2.78 million kg. from June 1-11, he said. Out-quota imports were 14 million kg in April, 26.03 million kg in May, and 12.36 million kg from June 1-11, he added.
“For the period April 9 to June 11, 2021, the BOC posted a total collection of PHP846.96 million. We estimated the revenue losses from EOs 128 and 134 to have reached PHP1.356 billion for this period,” Guerrero said.
Dominguez earlier said he expects revenue losses from lower pork import tariffs to reach PHP11.2 billion this year under EO 134, as the government slashed import duties and raised the MAV import quota to pull down the retail prices of pork products, which have soared this year following a major supply shortage triggered by the outbreak of the African swine fever (ASF).
Citing estimates by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), Dominguez said the projected savings of PHP50.1 billion to be gained by consumers from lower pork prices and the subsequent easing of inflationary pressures far outweigh the state revenue loss from the temporary tariff cuts.
July 6, 2021/ Philippine News Agency/ Philippines.
https://www.pna.gov.ph
