Group backs call vs overimportation

MANILA, Philippines — The party-list group Abono and other stakeholders in the agriculture industry yesterday welcomed calls to stop the importation of pork, chicken and vegetables beyond the country’s commitment with the World Trade Organization (WTO).

“Overimportation is hurting our local hog and chicken producers. I am pretty sure there will be backyard raisers who will fold up because their earnings right now are below break-even,”Abono Rep. and Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura chairperson Rosendo So said.

He added that their group fully supports the call by senatorial aspirant Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos to suspend the importation of pork, chicken and vegetables to give local backyard raisers to recover their losses.

Under the WTO, the country’s minimum access volume for pork is at 54.21 million kilos while MAV for chicken is at 23.49 million kilos. 

However, in 2018, total pork importation reached 387.89 million kilos or close to a 700-percent increase from the MAV. 

Total chicken importation reached 310.85 million kilos or about 1,100 percent of the MAV, So said.