President Duterte declares year-long state of calamity due to African Swine Fever
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte declared through a proclamation a state of calamity throughout the country for one year due to African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreak.
The
President’s Proclamation No. 1143 mandates all government agencies to cooperate
with each other and to mobilize the necessary resources to curtail the spread
of ASF as well as to address the supply deficit of pork products, reduce retail
prices, and jumpstart the rehabilitation of the local hog industry.
It
also directed all law enforcement agencies, with the support of the Armed
Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to carry out measures to ensure peace and order
in affected areas.
ASF
was first reported in the Philippines in 2019 and has so far spread to 12
regions, 46 provinces, and 493 cities in the country. New cases are still being
reported despite the government’s interventions.
The
contagion has significantly reduced the country’s swine population by around
three million hogs and resulted in P100 billion losses to the local hog sector
and allied industries, leading to increased retail prices pork products.
The
continuing spread of ASF compelled the government to address its adverse
impacts, kickstart the rehabilitation of the hog industry and ensure the
availability and affordability of pork products in the country.
With
President Duterte’s declaration, the national government and local government
units (LGUs) will have more leeway in utilizing appropriate funds, including
Quick Response Fund (QRF) in their ASF response initiatives.
President
Duterte also issued Executive Order 133, which increases the Minimum Access
Volume (MAV) for pork meat under the Agricultural Tariffication Act.
Under
the President’s order, last year’s MAV of 54,210 metric tons of pork meat will
be increased to 254,210 MT provided that any unavailable balance last year is
not carried over this year.
EO
133 mandates the MAV Management Committee to ensure fair volume allocation to
all importers of pork meat in accordance with the existing rules and
regulations and agricultural MAV guideline.
The spread of ASF in 12 regions of the country led to reduction in the local swine inventory of three million heads. The Department of Agriculture (DA) estimates that the country’s pork shortage this year could be around 388,790 MT. PND
