THE Philippines has made a significant move to double the import volume of chipping potatoes to 60,000 tons under the Minimum Access Volume (MAV) scheme, aiming to bolster the local snack manufacturing sector with a reduced tariff.
The adjustment is in response to the escalating demand for high-quality raw materials necessary for producing potato chips and french fries.
This was highlighted by the MAV Management Committee, which stressed the importance of aligning import requirements with the competitive edge of local potato chip producers.
Key beneficiaries include Universal Robina, Liwayway Marketing and Leslie Food, which are allocated to import chipping potatoes at a 3% tariff, compared to the standard 40% for imports. The move addresses the absence of locally-produced chipping potatoes suitable for snack manufacturing, compelling producers to rely heavily on imports.
