State of calamity vs ASF sought

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Francis Pangilinan yesterday asked Malacañang to declare a state of calamity to help hog-raisers recover from the effects of African swine fever (ASF) and not allow imported pork to flood the market.

As this developed, Senate President Vicente Sotto III said the committee of the whole’s inquiry into the alleged multibillion-peso corruption in pork import permits or “tongpats” would be conducted on April 6.

Pangilinan warned that the lockdown in Metro Manila and neighboring provinces could put more pressure on the food supply.

“The President was probably misinformed by his advisers. This act of raising the MAV will further weaken our local pork producers,” Pangilinan said, referring to the minimum access volume or cap on imports.

President Duterte earlier asked Congress to increase the cap on pork imports purchased under lower tariffs to address supply shortage after millions of local hogs were culled due to ASF.

The Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura denounced Duterte’s recommendation to increase the MAV on pork imports.

“On behalf of our local hog-raisers, we are asking for a declaration of a state of calamity so that funds for indemnification and additional cash assistance may immediately be tapped for them,” Pangilinan said.

On March 15, senators adopted Pangilinan’s Senate Resolution 676, which urged the Department of Agriculture to “recommend to the President to declare a state of national calamity” due to the severe impact of the ASF on the hog industry.

The declaration would authorize the use of the national disaster risk reduction and management fund as well as the quick response fund to supplement efforts to contain and manage the ASF. – Catherine Talavera