MANILA, Philippines — Department of Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. yesterday threw his support behind hog raisers’ calls for higher pork import tariffs, saying the DA intends to ease mounting losses among local producers squeezed by cheaper imports and falling farmgate prices.
“I’m on the side of Filipino hog raisers. We will do whatever is in our power to provide the swine industry immediate relief,” Tiu Laurel said.
His statement signals broad agreement with the Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG), which is pushing for higher tariffs and a suspension of additional pork imports to protect the domestic hog industry.
SINAG wants tariffs restored to 30 percent for in-quota pork imports and 40 percent for shipments outside the quota, along with a 120-day suspension of additional imports.