The Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries (PCAF) through its National Sectoral and Strategic Concerns Committee – Committee on Poultry, Livestock, and Feed Crops (NSSCCs-CPLFC) spearheaded the special meeting between the Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol and broiler industry stakeholders on January 8, 2019 at Apacible Conference Room in Quezon City.

The meeting was conducted to address the continuous drop of farmgate price for chicken to PhP38 in some areas while the retail price is increasing, ranging from PhP110-Php150 per kilo.

On that day, in Commonwealth Market for example, it was reported that the price of chicken per kilo is between PhP150-PhP160.

The suggested retail price (SRP) should be farmgate price plus PhP50. However, the SRP of chicken that was imposed did not follow suit.

It was also reported that there is increase in the importation of chicken meat by around 40% last year, as this might end up hurting the local poultry industry.

In response, stakeholders suggested to temporarily stop the importation of chicken meat and to increase the volume of local production.

Sec. Piñol has ordered to review the volume of chicken being imported into the country.

Furthermore, Sec. Piñol suggested that the body should unanimously agree to increase the farmgate prices at least PhP10 every week until such time that the farmers would not be losing money further, and also to avoid shortage of chicken in the second quarter of the year.

CPLFC Chairperson Dr. Rufina Salas advised the body to hold on to their prevailing prices for now.

The re-imposition of special safeguard duty (SSG) of the chicken meat was also tackled but subject for further discussion for its effective implementation. – LC