PBBM issues EO raising pork import access volume to help stabilize supply, prices

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has issued Executive Order No. 116, increasing the minimum access volume (MAV) for pork meat in 2026 from 54,210 metric tons (MT) to 204,210 MT to maintain sufficient supply and keep pork and processed meat products affordable. The measure forms part of the administration’s broader Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT) agenda under EO 110 (s. 2026) which directed a whole-of-government approach in mitigating the impact of the Middle East crisis on the economy and protecting the welfare of all affected sectors. Under one of its pillars, the Department of Agriculture and other relevant agencies are mandated to ensure that supply of food and essential commodities remain adequate and prices are within reach of consumers. Under EO 116, President Marcos ordered the MAV Management Committee (MMC) to ensure a fair allocation of pork import volume in accordance with the following: 30,000 MT for processors and 120,000 MT for the Food Terminal Inc. or the Kadiwa ng Pangulo Program. “There is an urgent need to address the existing supply gap in pork, ensure adequate and affordable food for consumers, and mitigate inflationary pressures,” the Order stated. The EO noted that the MMC has recommended an increase in the MAV for pork by 150,000 metric tons (MT) annually for a period of two years to address prevailing supply constraints and price pressures to ensure the continued availability and affordability of pork and processed meat products. President Marcos also directed the MMC to formulate and issue implementation guidelines that will guarantee allocations intended for the Food Terminal Inc. and the KADIWA ng Pangulo Program are “efficiently utilized and implemented in a manner consistent with the objectives of the MAV Plus mechanism, particularly in augmenting domestic supply, stabilizing market prices, and promoting consumer welfare.” By authority of the President, Acting Executive Secretary Ralph Recto signed EO 116 on May 19, 2026, which shall take effect immediately upon ty its publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation. The guidelines will be released within 30 days. |