President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. issued an executive order raising the minimum access volume for pork imports to nearly four times last year’s quantity to alleviate supply deficits and lower prices.
Manila, Philippines – In a move to counter the significant shortage of pork meat caused by the ongoing African Swine Fever epidemic, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. signed Executive Order 116 on May 19, 2026, increasing the minimum access volume (MAV) for pork meat imports from 54,210 metric tons (MT) to 204,210 MT for the year. This measure aims to bridge the supply gap and help reduce escalating retail pork prices that have affected Filipino consumers.
The executive order highlights that the spread of African Swine Fever has drastically diminished the national swine inventory, resulting in a substantial shortfall and consistently high prices in the pork market. The government’s directive emphasizes the need to ensure adequate, affordable food availability and to mitigate inflationary pressures affecting the population.
The MAV Management Committee (MMC) is tasked with implementing the import allocations as follows: 30,000 MT designated for pork processors and 120,000 MT allocated to the Food Terminal Inc., which manages the “Kadiwa ng Pangulo” program, a government initiative aimed at supplying affordable meat to consumers.
Furthermore, the MMC is required to develop implementation guidelines within 30 days from the order’s effectivity to ensure that allocations, particularly for the Kadiwa program, are efficiently utilized in line with MAV Plus mechanism objectives. The executive order was signed into effect by Acting Executive Secretary Ralph Recto under the authority of the president.
This adjustment reflects the government’s proactive stance in securing sufficient pork supply amid ongoing challenges, protecting consumer interests, and stabilizing market prices.
Sources referenced:
- https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/988565/marcos-pork-meat-mav-supply-shortfall/story/
