December 30, 2003

 

 

Rise In Chicken Prices in The Philippines Due To Tight Supply

 

Broiler producers in the Philippines have attributed the recent increase in chicken prices to tight supply.

 

Gregorio San Diego, spokesman for the United Broilers' Raisers Association (Ubra), said that the industry is still trying to bounce back from the losses it suffered last year until the first quarter of this year because during that time chicken prices dropped.

 

"Chicken supply then in Philippines was overflowing and that the tendency of course is for the prices to go down. It is only now that the local suppliers are really trying to regain their losses. Add to this is the fact that many traders are really taking advantage of the holiday season, where chicken and chicken products are in demand," San Diego said in an interview.

 

Earlier, industrialist and consumer advocate Raul Concepcion asked Trade Secretary Mar Roxas to enlighten consumers on the shortage in chickens and cement.

 

Concepcion said he was swamped with text messages and got calls from radio and TV stations just before Christmas, all demanding an explanation for the shortages.

 

"I thought it was just the usual last-minute shopping, but when my own family complained that there was no chicken to be found in supermarkets; and several friends called to say there is no cement, then I really got concerned," Concepcion said.

 

He said Roxas, as a comember in the National Price Coordinating Council, had backed the tax-free importation of chicken to take care of the holiday shortage.

 

However, Agriculture Secretary Luis Lorenzo Jr. and the poultry growers rejected this as unnecessary, Concepcion said. So, at the very least, authorities must explain the shortages.

 

Cement makers also told Roxas there was no need to lower the duty on cement temporarily, assuring him of adequate supply at reasonable prices. So they must also explain the tight supply, he added.

 

San Diego, meanwhile, said his group is doing their own chicken price monitoring in the market and found out that chicken is now being sold at P135 per kilo.

 

San Diego also said they have been getting their supply of chicks from the Philippine Association of Broilers' Integrators (Pabi), which reportedly has limited number of chicks to supply their group.

 

"They could also be having a hard time because of the high cost of feeds. This affects us in a way that we are also depending on them for our supply of chicks."

 

According to Ubra, the cost of chicken (live) production has shoot up from P44 to P57 a kilo.

 

Earlier, Lorenzo assured the public of stable supply of chicken amid fears that chicken prices in Metro Manila will continue to up because supply is running short.

 

"We are currently experiencing some temporary tightness, but overall, chicken supply in Metro Manila is adequate and there is no reason for everyone to worry," Lorenzo said.