Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel ‘Migz’ Zubiri challenged Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. to crack down on pork price manipulators, smugglers and excessive meat imports.
He urged Tiu Laurel to demonstrate his strong leadership as thousands of backyard hog raisers struggle with falling farmgate prices while consumers continue paying considerably more for pork in public markets.
‘Show your anger against predatory pricing, including smugglers. Fight them, don’t be afraid,’ Zubiri told Tiu Laurel during the Senate hearing on the proposed 2027 budget of the Department of Agriculture (DA). Zubiri welcomed Tiu Laurel’s disclosure that the DA was preparing to temporarily suspend certain pork imports.
I can suspend importation of [pork products] for 60 days or stop issuance of new SPSIC (Sanitary and Phytosanitary Import Clearances,’ Tiu Laurel said.
SPSICs are required for importing agricultural products to ensure compliance with animal health and food safety requirements