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The Department of Agriculture (DA) has presented to President Rodrigo Duterte its recommendation to declare a state of national emergency to face the threat of African swine fever (ASF), which caused the decimation of the pig population, the shortage of supply pork and high market prices. .
This was confirmed by the Secretary of Agriculture, William Dar, through a text message on Thursday.
READ: The Department of Agriculture presented the president with its recommendation to declare a national state of emergency due to the African swine fever crisis that affected the local swine industry. pic.twitter.com/fP1ZAS2JZ8
– Ted Cordero (@Ted_Cordero) March 18, 2021
In a memorandum signed by Dar and presented to the President through Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, the Office of the Prosecutor drafted a proclamation “declaring a state of national emergency to prevent further spread of African swine fever through the implementation of biosecurity measures to promote the rehabilitation of the pig industry and appropriate their funds “.
In the memo, the head of Agriculture said that the ASF “is currently decimating the local pig industry.”
“The disease has already spread to 12 regions, 40 provinces, 466 cities and municipalities and 2,425 barangays to date. More than three million head of pigs have been lost due to the disease, causing a contraction in the supply of pork and an unprecedented rise in the price of agricultural commodities, ”said Dar.
The draft proclamation responds to the call of the Senate agriculture commission to recommend the declaration of a state of emergency throughout the country amid the threat of African swine fever.
Once a state of emergency is declared, DA can tap into the government’s rapid response fund (QRF), a reserve fund for relief and recovery programs in times of disasters, calamities, epidemics, or complex emergencies.
Dar said the declaration of a national emergency would compel and train government agencies, including local government units, to work together to prevent and control the spread of African swine fever.
Duterte previously issued an executive order imposing a maximum price on pork products as requested by the district attorney due to the increase in pork prices caused by the African swine fever problem and the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the executive order, the maximum price for kasim and pigue was set at P270 per kilo, P300 for fresh and P160 for seasoned chicken per kilo. The price limit will last for 60 days.
The DA proposes to increase the minimum access volume in pork imports to 400,000 metric tons from the current 54,000 metric tons to increase the national supply due to limitations imposed by African swine fever (ASF).
He also proposes to reduce tariffs from 30% to 5% for this year.—AOL, GMA News
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