President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has issued Executive Order No. 116, increasing the minimum access volume (MAV) for pork from 54,210 metric tons (MT) to 204,210 MT to ensure its continued availability and affordability amid inventory losses caused by African Swine Fever (ASF).

The order, signed on May 19 and made public on Friday, directed the MAV Management Committee to see to it that the importation volume is fairly allocated to processors (30,000 MT) and to Food Terminal Inc. or the KADIWA ng Pangulo Program (120,000 MT).

It also directed the MMC to formulate and issue implementing guidelines within 30 days from the effectivity of the order.

“The guidelines shall ensure that the 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,” it read.

The Department of Agriculture recently lifted the ban on pork imports from Spain after recognizing the country’s regionalization measures for ASF. Spain is the Philippines’ second-largest source of pork, next to Brazil.

The temporary ban was imposed in December 2025 after ASF cases were reported in parts of Europe. /jpv

See original article here.