May 20, 2009
Philippine alliance group urge gov't to extend zero duties on wheat
An alliance of poultry, hog, and feed producers is pressing the Philippine government to extend by another six months the zero tariff on wheat which is the only way to keep competitiveness of the widely disadvantaged sectors against their Asian neighbours.
The alliance includes the Philippine Association of Feed Millers Inc., National Federation of Hog Farmers Inc. (NFHFI), Union of Broilers and Raisers Association (UBRA), and National Federation of Egg Producers of the Philippines Inc.
In a letter to Agriculture Secretary Arthur C. Yap, the Agricultural Alliance said the government should stretch the zero tariff on wheat up to December 2009 to also help reduce the price of meat and poultry products for the sake of consumers.
The alliance said in a joint statement that the extension will deter an increase in the price of meat, poultry and livestock products, making them more affordable to many Filipinos.
NFHFI chairman said the zero wheat tariff should make up for the big shortage of corn production even as the real shortage on corn output remains to be at around one million tonnes yearly.
This is despite government's reported increase in production as government's production figures on corn have always become apparently overestimated.
The chairman said that because of many depressive factors including high feed ingredient prices, the hog sector is foreseen to have a flat growth this year.
The farmers groups fear that without the zero wheat tariff, corn price can shoot up again beyond the PHP20 per kilogramme level last year.
US$1 = PHP47.092 (May 20)
