President Rodrigo Duterte has signed an executive order retaining the 5-percent import tariff on mechanically deboned meat from poultry until Dec. 31, 2022 to ease the possible impact on the prices of meat.
He signed on Jan. 15 Executive Order 123, citing the “urgent need” to adopt measures aimed at mitigating the adverse impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the lives and livelihoods of Filipinos.
Senator Christopher Go says the new order modifying the rates of import duty on certain agricultural products will have a huge impact on keeping prices low by keeping the tariffs low and preventing any inflationary effect.
He says the EO will further maintain the reduced tariff rates on mechanically deboned meat of chicken and turkey until next year as a way of helping curb hunger and prevent prices of said products from going up amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This will be a big help to our countrymen especially our poor people in the midst of the crisis we are facing. Many have lost their jobs and livelihoods,” Go said.
Malacañang said the 5-percent tariff on mechanically deboned chicken and turkey meat would prevent a jump in the prices of processed meat products.
“It is necessary for the government to provide an enabling environment that ensures the continued supply of essential food products at stable prices, help businesses recover and sustain their operations, and preserve and create employment opportunities, all for the purpose of supporting the economy in bouncing back and resuming its growth momentum,” the EO says.
Agriculture Secretary William Dar said he supported the continued implementation of low tariff to stave of price increases and give Filipinos affordable choices of processed foods.
Malacanang said the present economic conditions warrant the continued application of the reduced rate of duties on certain agricultural products to mitigate the impact of the high prices of goods.
