Index shows: Construction prices in Mla trending up

By Andrea E. San Juan

READY, DREDGE!

A team from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Marikina City uses a dredging machine on a floating platform to tackle waste-related flooding. By deepening the Marikina River and removing accumulated waste, they aim to improve flood management and enhance community safety ahead of the rainy season. NONOY LACZA

IMPORTERS SEEK LOW MEAT TARIFFS; LOCALS BALK

MEAT importers are lobbying the economic managers to lower the tariff rate levied across all meat products, including offal, to just 5 percent, arguing that it would keep inflation in check amid global economic and food challenges. The biggest farm coalition called out the importers’ bloc, however, reminding them that with government support being anemic, “tariff is the local industry’s last refuge.”

“We write regarding the ongoing MFN [Most Favored Nation] tariff review. MITA had proposed that all meat and edible offal be levied a 5 percent rate across the board,” the Meat Importers and Traders Association (Mita) said in a letter addressed to Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan dated May 22.

The letter was also submitted to President Marcos Jr., who concurrently sits as the agriculture chief, and to various Cabinet secretaries like Finance Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno and Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual.

A copy of the letter was also sent to Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Felipe Medalla.

In its letter, Mita argued that the expiry of the current temporary low tariff rates on pork products would cause an uptick in meat prices that could hurt Filipino consumers.

The latest Executive Order, which was issued by the sitting president, extended the lower inquota and out-quota tariffs on pork, which are 15 percent and 25 percent, respectively, until the end of the year.

“Needless to say, reversion to a higher duty rate will further raise the cost of imported pork meat and discourage imports,” said the letter, which was signed by Mita’s President Sherwin Choi and President Emeritus Jesus C. Cham.

The group has argued anew that the recovery of the local hog sector would take at least five years before domestic pig output returns to pre-African swine fever (ASF) levels.

“The five-year period was premised on the containment of ASF or the discovery of a vaccine, none of which has materialized. We are now in the fourth

See “Tariffs,” A2

INFLATION has pushed Manila’s construction prices upwards, according to global engineering and consultancy solutions firm Arcadis’ latest International Construction Costs index. According to the Arcadis 2023 International Construction Costs (ICC) report with the title “New Horizons,” Manila has ranked 81st in the study of comparative construction costs across 100 global cities.

In a statement on Tuesday, Arcadis noted that “Manila’s ranking held steady from last year’s index, but annual inflation hit its highest level in 14 years, pushing construction prices upwards.”

The company said pandemic-related restrictions in 2022, labor shortages, material costs and rising fuel prices still “posed challenges” to the construction industry.

Despite these obstacles, Arcadis Country Sales/Client Development Director Jocelyn Pagcatipunan said, “the industry was able to adapt well by implementing measures such as bundling packages for different projects to save time and cost, using locally sourced materials that meet standards, and early collaboration with suppliers to ensure the availability of required items and goods on site.”