Longer pork holiday looms despite shakeup at DA

MANILA, Philippines - Hog raisers may still launch another pork holiday despite a shakeup at the Department of Agriculture (DA) if the Bureau of Customs (BOC) would not immediately implement measures to stop the smuggling of meat. Edwin Chen, president of the Pork Producers Federation of the Philippines Inc., said in a press conference yesterday that while the DA has already taken steps in line with preventing the smuggling of meat, backyard hog raisers may still launch a five-day pork holiday if the BOC would not take action.

Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) director Efren Nuestro had been relieved from his post while National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) executive director Jane Bacayo resigned last Wednesday amid calls for their removal due to rampant meat smuggling.

“The pig holiday is for five days. We hope that will not push through,” Chen said.

Over the weekend, hog raisers launched a two-day pig holiday which represented 70 percent of the total production of the sector.

“What we want is for (BOC) Commissioner (Rufino) Biazon to take action... I believe that he has this good intention to help but good intention is not enough,” he said.

Chen said DA Secretary Proceso Alcala has written Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima to give more powers to the DA over the entry of imports by being allowed to reject clearance of shipments that are undervalued and to require the importers applying for import permits to submit proof of payment of tax of previous shipments.

He added that the Finance department and the BOC have not done anything in response to Alcala’s letter.

Rosendo So, spokesman of the Swine Development Council, said in the same event that the purpose of the planned five-day pork holiday is to send a message that hog raisers have been hurting and losing income due to smuggling.

“Backyard raisers lose P800 to P1,000 for every pig,” he said.

Gregorio San Diego Jr., president of the United Broiler Raisers Association, said chicken growers would also be taking part in the pork holiday by holding a chicken holiday.

“We will be participating for one to two days,” he said.

Chen said that hog raisers will discuss when the pork holiday will take place, which will depend on actions to be taken by the BOC to stop smuggling.

“We will not disclose when it (pork holiday) will happen. It will just happen,” he said. 

Shakeup

Alcala said Nuestro was replaced by Robina Cresencio as officer-in-charge-director of the BAI.

In his Special Order No. 343 dated yesterday, Alcala said Nuestro would have to vacate office immediately.

Nuestro was given ample time to attend to his “retirement papers and clearances” since he would already be ending his government service.

Nuestro, meanwhile, declined to comment on the matter yesterday. He is scheduled to hold a press conference today.

Bacayo, for his part, confirmed yesterday that he left his office last Wednesday.

“I just tendered my irrevocable resignation yesterday which is effective immediately. It was a one sentence letter of resignation without stating any reason,” he said in a text message.

He declined to give the reason for his resignation.

Alcala has designated deputy executive director Minda Manantan as officer-in-charge-executive director of the NMIS.

The NMIS accredits importers of meat while the BAI issues the veterinary quarantine clearance (VQC) or the import permit for meat. 

In order to get a VQC, the importer must be accredited by the NMIS and the country where it shall be getting its imports must likewise be accredited by the government.

Chen said the move of Bacayo and Nuestro to leave their posts was welcomed by hog raisers, but said this is not enough to solve the problem of smuggling.

“That’s only one part of the equation, the other part is the BOC,” he said.  

Concerted effort

Malacañang, for its part, said yesterday the concerned government agencies, including the DA, BOC and the Department of Finance, have joined forces to address the smuggling of pork into the country amid threats of another “pork holiday” to protest the rampant smuggling of pork.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said Alcala will be meeting with hog and poultry raisers to address their concerns. – With Aurea Calica