The British Chamber of Commerce Philippines (BCCP) welcomed the government’s decision to expand the minimum access volume (MAV) for pork imports, saying the measure could help improve food security, stabilize prices, and strengthen agricultural trade ties between the United Kingdom and the Philippines.
To address supply gaps and mitigate inflationary pressures, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. recently signed Executive Order (EO) 116, which increased the MAV for pork meat to 204,210 metric tons (MT) from 54,210 MT for 2026. The order forms part of the administration’s “Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport” or “UPLIFT” agenda aimed at cushioning the domestic economy from external shocks, while ensuring adequate supply of essential goods.
“We remain open to further discussions on the revised increase of MAV, including the allocations, which we have been supporting since 2023,” Executive Vice Chair Chris Nelson of BCCP said. “We believe that an increase in MAV…represents an important step toward strengthening the UK-Philippines bilateral trade and the country’s overall food security efforts.”
The chamber said it has consistently advocated for lower tariffs on pork and other meat products, while supporting the proposed increase in MAV allocations to better align with the country’s growing population, address supply constraints caused by African swine fever, and help temper food inflation.
Raffle system
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the revised MAV mechanism would also reform how import allocations are distributed among market players.
In an interview, he explained that “we changed the allocation of [MAV distribution. Before, 10 percent of the companies controlled 60 percent of the volume, but now we changed the system to a raffle system where everyone is at an equal footing] to promote more competition and provide a level playing field.”
“That means lower prices in general for the benefit of consumers,” he added.
Laurel also noted that the MAV framework had not undergone significant amendments in decades. “It has been 30 years since it has been amended, where we [at the DA] finally did,” he said.
Allocations, allotments
UNDER EO 116, 30,000 MT of the MAV allocation will be designated for processors, while 120,000 MT will be allotted to the Food Terminal Inc. and the “Kadiwa ng Pangulo” program to augment domestic supply and stabilize prices.
The chamber said the policy could further support expanding agricultural trade between the Philippines and the UK, as it remains open to further discussions in terms of the allocation.
In partnership with the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), BCCP has facilitated eight trade missions since 2021 aimed at strengthening bilateral agricultural and food trade relations.
Recent AHDB data showed that British exports to the Philippines rose by 13.3 percent year-on-year to 5,310 tons in the first quarter, while export value increased by 10.6 percent to £6.786 million.
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