Palace respects senators’ plan to revoke EO cutting pork import tariffs

By Prince Golez

Malacañang said it respects the plan of some senators to withdraw President Rodrigo Duterte’s Executive Order No. (EO) 128, lowering tariff rates on imported pork products.

This came after Senators Franklin Drilon, Cynthia Villar and Francis Pangilinan sought to revoke EO through a legislative joint resolution.

“The Palace respects the call of some lawmakers to revoke Executive Order No 128, which temporarily modifies the rates of import duty on fresh, chilled or frozen meat of swine,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a statement Tuesday.

“In the event that our lawmakers decide to reverse EO No. 128 lowering the tariff on imported pork, such action is within the legislative power of our lawmakers,” added Roque.

The EO reducing the tariff on pork importation

is only a delegated power given by Congress to the President to impose tariff rates, imports or exports, he also said.

On April 7, Duterte signed EO 128 modifying the tariff rate on pork imports within the minimum access volume (MAV) to 5 percent for the first three months upon the effectivity of the executive order and to 10 percent for the fourth to twelfth month from the current rate of 30 percent.

Pork imports outside MAV were also reduced with a lower tariff of 15 percent for the first three months and 20 percent for the succeeding nine months from the current rate of 40 percent, the Order also stated.

Citing Paragraph 2, Section 28, Article 6 of the 1987 Constitution, Roque said Congress may, by law, impose limitations on or reverse Duterte’s decision.

“Should Congress pass another bill changing the tariff on imported pork, the President may veto any particular item or items in such appropriation, revenue, or tariff bill,” he pointed out.

But, the secretary said the executive and the legislative branches can work together in protecting the interest of both the hog raisers and consumers.

Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)