Manila, May 29 -- The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Friday said it will ensure a careful balance between the welfare of Filipino consumers and hog raisers over the minimum access volume (MAV) for pork imports.

This comes after President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. ordered the agency to lead the drafting of the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) for Executive Order No. 116.

In a statement, DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. assured close consultations with hog raisers, meat processors and lawmakers while crafting the IRR to ensure that it will address concerns that higher imports could undermine local producers already struggling with elevated prices of feed, fuel and biosecurity.

"The IRR will seek a careful balance between p...