THE Philippines is considering importing as much as 500,000 metric tons (MT) of corn possibly at zero duty to boost local supply and make it more available to end-users such as hog raisers and poultry growers.

Agriculture Secretary Arthur C. Yap said the Department of Agriculture (DA) would “most likely” recommend to President Arroyo the importation of corn—the main ingredient in manufacturing feeds.

“But we need to discuss [the importation] with the economic managers. We have yet to discuss a final formula [on tariff and volume],” said Yap.

The DA chief said he would have to discuss with Cabinet members whether the tariff on the corn imports should go down to zero. Currently, tariffs slapped on corn imports range from 35 percent for those within the so-called minimum access volume (MAV) to 50 percent for those outside of MAV.

At zero duty, the expected landed cost of the corn imports is between P12 to P12.50 per kilogram.

Yap said he believes the possible suspension of tariffs on the corn import will not serve as a stumbling block to the government’s fiscal reform program.

The DA is recommending to import between 200,000 MT to 500,000 MT of corn which will come in anytime between the lean months of June, July and August.

The government has yet to determine whether the importation will be undertaken by the National Food Authority or the private traders.

While the expected import volume is lower than the 700,000 MT being requested by poultry growers, Yap said corn growers from the Philippine Maize Federation (PhilMaize) is amenable to it.

PhilMaize opposed the request due to fears that the incomes of corn farmers will drop significantly.

Currently, corn in the domestic market goes at an average of P12 a kilo—a level which hog raisers and poultry growers say has become too steep for them and may be an indication of a shortage, prompting them to call for the importation of corn at zero tariff.

“[If at all], we will allow the importation of only 200,000 metric tons,” said PhilMaize president Rosalie Ellasus earlier.

She said corn growers want the imports to go through NFA since part of the tariffs and fees that will be collected will go to the Corn Development Fund (CDF).

THE Fair Trade Alliance (FTA) and several industry and civic groups launched Tuesday their nationalist development agenda (NDA) advocating five broad economic programs that they hope the government would adopt.

THE Philippines is considering importing as much as 500,000 metric tons (MT) of corn possibly at zero duty to boost local supply and make it more available to end-users such as hog raisers and poultry growers.

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