Tabuk city: Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. announced that the increase in the minimum access volume (MAV) for imported pork is expected to enhance market competition and lower retail prices in local markets. This follows President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s issuance of Executive Order (EO) 116, which raised the MAV for pork meat from 54,210 metric tons (MT) to 204,210 MT.

According to Philippines News Agency, Tiu Laurel stated in an interview that the changes will benefit Filipino consumers by providing a more level playing field for stakeholders. He emphasized that increased competition would generally lead to lower prices for consumers. Tiu Laurel made these remarks during his inspection at the National Food Authority (NFA) warehouse in Tabuk City, Kalinga.

As of Thursday, the Department of Agriculture's price watch, DA-Bantay Presyo, reported that the prices of frozen kasim (shoulder) in Metro Manila range from PHP210 to PHP280 per kilo, while frozen liempo (belly) is priced between PHP280 and PHP360 per kilo.

The Agriculture Secretary pointed out that the revised MAV mechanism is not only aimed at easing price pressures but also at changing a system that has been in place for three decades, where only a few companies have secured the majority of the MAV allocation. Tiu Laurel noted that the new system involves a raffle to ensure equal opportunities and enhance competition, which is expected to benefit consumers.

Under EO 116, the allocation of pork imports comprises 120,000 MT for the Food Terminal Inc. or Kadiwa ng Pangulo program, with an additional 30,000 MT allocated for processors.