DA seeks to expand MAV for pork, corn

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April 15, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture (DA) plans to allow more imported pork and corn into the country to help stabilize retail prices amid rising shipping costs.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said yesterday the agency is proposing to expand the minimum access volume for pork and corn imports under the MAV Plus scheme.

“The DA’s suggestion is using MAV Plus, which will increase the MAV so that it doesn’t affect farmers,” he added.

Tiu Laurel said the DA has consulted with corn farmers groups, which have agreed to the agency’s proposal, while pork industry players are currently under consultation.

He said poultry farmers were also consulted but rejected the DA’s proposal to expand MAV allocations due to overproduction and lower farmgate price for chicken.

“We might still propose and do the process of MAV Plus for chicken, but we won’t trigger it unless necessary. Just be ready. It’s important to always be ready,” Tiu Laurel said.

Farmer groups on Monday called on the DA to block proposals that would bring down tariffs on chicken, pork and corn to zero, as this could only damage local producers.

The agriculture chief said the volume of imports under the MAV Plus scheme is still under consideration following the agency’s consultation with industry groups.

“We will follow the recommendations of the industry just to have common ground. If it’s not enough, we will just add more. But as of the moment, we’ll take it from the industry, as much as is acceptable to them,” Tiu Laurel added.

He said that once stakeholders agree on a volume, the DA can implement the scheme within three weeks.

The Philippine government sets an MAV of 54,210 metric tons (MT) for imported pork, with tariff rates at 15 percent tariff for in-quota and 25 percent for out-quota.

Imported corn, on the other hand, has an MAV of 216,940 MT and slapped with a tariff of five percent for imports within the quota, while a 15 percent tariff is charged for shipments outside the quota.