While the country reels from floods brought about by storms Egay and Falcon, the poultry industry also suffers from a flood of oversupply of chicken caused by over importation and rampant smuggling.
Due to this, Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement president Edicio dela Torre said that for this year, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, who is also the concurrent Agriculture secretary, can consider a temporary moratorium on chicken imports.
Chicken consumption in the Philippines is estimated to grow by only 7% per capita to 15.08 kilos this year.
However, imports continue to come in, displacing local livelihood and disrupting the value chain. As of now, imported chicken in cold storages has grown 200% from 20,413 metric tons last year to 45, 451 metric tons this year not including those in ports and unregistered cold storages, hotels and restaurants, despite low demand.
United Broiler Raisers Association Chairman Gregorio San Diego, on the other hand, said that there should be targeted increase in local production and the corresponding decrease in imports with self-sufficiency as the main goal.
Since a significant number of poultry suppliers come from small to medium sized enterprises, the current supply glut is displacing local producers which could eventually impact on food security.
