Prices of chicken, pork remain high

CEBU, Philippines - Prices of chicken and pork remained high for the past several weeks, even as farm gate costs have already dropped.

If high prices continue to prevail in coming weeks until December, the government may be forced to impose suggested retail prices on pork and chicken products to control unusual price hikes.

Chicken retailers have put the blame of the price spike on the presumed temporary tightness in the supply of the commodity because of distribution issues.

In an interview yesterday, Gerry Avila of the Department of Agriculture in Central Visayas said poultry integrators in the country have been trying to meet the rising demand of chicken during the “ber” season.

The National Association of Broilers Association claimed a shortage of supply of chicken has been experienced especially in the National Capital Region.

Avila, who is chief of the agency’s Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division, said integrators told them that many poultry houses were destroyed by the previous typhoons. The event, he said, has somehow taken toll on the product’s supply.

He said if integrators would not be able to meet the increasing demand of chicken this holiday season, the DA may consider importation to boost domestic stocks.

But, the official said these meat imports are used for meat processing and are not intended to be sold at wet markets; locally sourced chicken goods are the ones being sold in public markets.  

“This is to fill up the requirement for December. Hinuon, di gyod ingon ana kadaghan ang importation,” he said.

Avila also added government agencies will meet next week for a Price Act consultation and that the proposal to have SRPs for fresh meat products may possibly be discussed.

"Posible nga usa na siya sa mga hisgotan – unsang mga agri products ang butangan og SRPs. The Manila office is trying to reconsider that. Mas maayo ni nga naa na gyoy SRP aron ma-control gyod ang price," he said.  (FREEMAN)