Chicken prices abnormally high, DA should step in —Laban Konsyumer

Consumer group Laban Konsyumer Inc. (LKI) on Saturday said chicken retail prices were abnormally high this quarter, reaching as much as P190 per kilo.

This is due to the higher farm gate prices in September and October, the group said.

"Based on monitoring on farm gate prices of chicken for the past month and the entire weeks of October, farm gate prices had increased by Php 15.00 a kilo on the average for off size, regular size and prime size chicken at Php 115.00 a kilo versus Php 100.00 a kilo a month ago," said in a statement.

"The PSA (Philippine Statistics Authority) data on monitored retail prices of whole chicken tracked the upswing in Farm gate  prices. Low prices now at Php 160 a kilo, high at Php 190 a kilo and prevailing at Php 180 a kilo," it added.

"As of end of September, retail  prices are 145 low, 180 high and 170 prevailing," LKI said.

The group said the increase in prices is due to the African swine fever outbreak which drove up demand for chicken.

"As per inquiry with Atty Bong Inciong of UBRA (United Broiler-Raisers Association), the ASF epidemic had caused the shift in demand for chicken. He said the last quarter and 1st quarter of the year are periods of soft Farm gate prices, but this year is different," LKI said.

The group added that the holiday season is also driving up prices of chicken.

"LABAN KONSYUMER INC. adds that the holiday fever is also exerting pressure on commodity prices to go up," it said.

LKI thus asked the Department of Agriculture to step in and monitor the prices of chicken.

"We call on the Department of Agriculture to strengthen monitoring of retail prices of chicken side by side with its ongoing efforts to contain the ASF epidemic," the group said. —KG, GMA News